| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| E. Svitolina (UKR) (8) | 7 | 6 |
| D. Gavrilova (AUS) | 5 | 0 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by E. Svitolina | 6 - 0 | E. Svitolina leads 2 to 0 |
| Set won by E. Svitolina | 7 - 5 | E. Svitolina leads 1 to 0 |
Wimbledon gets underway on Monday evening, and eighth seed Elina Svitolina faces a dangerous first-round battle when she takes on Australia’s Daria Gavrilova. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEST).
Gavrilova’s fade down the world rankings have been swept away under the Australian tennis rug in recent times, with Ashleigh Barty climbing to World No.1 and the continued antics of the Nick Kyrgios show.
It means the plight of Dasha hasn’t got nearly as much attention as it otherwise would, however, she comes into Wimbledon as the World No.78, and with plenty to prove after retiring in the first round at this year’s French Open and losing during the first round of her home grand slam earlier in 2019 to youngster Tamar Zidanesk.
So far has Gavrilova fallen, she needed to qualify for Eastbourne last week. She managed to do that, but fell away badly once she got there, scrapping past Viktorija Golubic in three sets, and then going down to Shuai Zhang in the second round.
Svitolina, on the other hand, has been in solid form and generally enjoys mixing it up on the grass surface.
She has avoided the top half of the draw, and this may well be her toughest matches across the first handful of rounds if Gavrilova plays anywhere near her potential which had her seeded for this tournament just 12 months ago.
In historical battles, Svitolina holds a six-three lead over Gavrilova, but has won all of their last five, including a straight sets beatdown at Indian Wells earlier this year.
The pair have never met on grass or at a grand slam, although, play styles would suggest that Svitolina is favoured for this contest.
Prediction
Svitolina is the eighth seed for a reason. Gavrilova at her best is a dangerous prospect, but all things considered, it’s bordering on impossible to tip the Aussie.
Svitolina in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships from 8pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: 8pm
Venue: All England Club, London
TV: Live, Channel 7
David Holden
Roar Guru
Hope you enjoyed the call tonight. There's plenty more of Wimbledon coming up on the Roar over the next two weeks. Good night
David Holden
Roar Guru
Elena Svitolina was too good for Daria Gavrilova tonight winning 7-5 6-0. The first set was pivotal with both players struggling for confidence. Svitolina's serve was just a little better on the key points and she clinched it 7-5. From there, her confidence skyrocketed and she raced into the second round. She will meet the winner of Margarita Gasparyan and Anna-Lena Friedsam, where she will be hot favourite to advance to the final 32. For Dasha, she played some good points but her confidence has taken a battering and her second serve is a real problem. She has the talent but its a long way back for her
David Holden
Roar Guru
Svitolina misses with the forehand. 0-15 Another forehand just missed. 0-30 Drop shot return was the wrong option. 15-30 Svitolina hits a forehand winner. 30-30 Big first serve brings up match point. 40-30 Good return from Gavrilova forces it to deuce Sliding serve before Svitolina wrongfoots with the forehand. Match point GAME SET MATCH SVITOLINA 7-5 6-0 as Elena wins with her backhand Svitolina 7 6 Gavrilova 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Nice forehand volley from Gavrilova wins that. 15-0 Svitolina nets the forehand return.30-0 Drop shot goes wrong for Gavrilova. 30-15 Double fault and we are back at 30-30 Drop shot again and Svitolina pounces with a forehand winner. 30-40 Double fault and, unfortunately, its all going wrong for Gavrilova. Svitolina will serve for the match Svitolina 7 5 Gavrilova 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Gavrilova nets a slice backhand. 15-0 Svitolina hits her crosscourt forehand wide. 15-15 Body serve and backhand winner from Svitolina. 30-15 First serve and forehand volley winner. 40-15 Gavrilova nets her forehand return and Svitolina holds Svitolina 7 4 Gavrilova 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Gavrilova brings Svitolina in but she guesses right on the volley. 0-15 Big forehand from Svitolina and she has lifted her game, 0-30 Return catches the tape and its 0-40 Drop shot from Svitolina is too good and this one is quickly slipping away for Dasha. Svitolina 7 3 Gavrilova 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Body serve and Gavrilova hits her forehand long. 15-0 Good point from Gavrilova moving Svitolina around and finished with a backhand volley. 15-15 Crosscourt forehand winner from Dasha. 15-30 Gavrilova hits the return just long Good serve from Svitolina. 40-30 Another good serve draws the error and that's the game Svitolina 7 2 Gavrilova 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Gavrilova to serve Just getting coverage back but an unforced error gives Svitolina an early break Svitolina 7 1 Gavrilova 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
That will hurt from Gavrilova as she wasn't far away in that set. Svitolina just played the big points marginally better but her confidence just got a boost Svitolina 7 0 Gavrilova 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good depth from Svitolina forces the error. 15-0 Great crosscourt forehand winner from Gavrilova. 15-15 Solid backhand volleys under pressure from Svitolina. 30-15 Serve down the T is a good one and 2 set points. 40-15 Double fault and its 40-30 Good serve wide from Svitolina and she was won the first set SVITOLINA 6-3 Svitolina 7 Gavrilova 5
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Crushing for whomever loses this set. Huge five minutes ahead. Good call David.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Signs of nerves from both players Svitolina 6 Gavrilova 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Double fault. 0-15 Gavrilova hits a forehand wide. 0-30 Dasha approaches but the forehand goes just wide. 0-40 Good serve and winner from Gavrilova. 15-40 Sliding serve draws the error. 30-40 Another double unfortunately and Svitolina gets another chance to serve for the set Svitolina 6 Gavrilova 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Svitolina nets the forehand. 0-15 Good serve but the forehand goes long. 0-30 Good sliding serve draws an error. 15-30 Gavrilova hits the drop shot but Svitolina reads well and hits the backhand winner. 30-30 Gavrilova approaches and hits the drive volley winner. 30-40 Svitolina overhits the backhand and Gavrilova has broken back! Svitolina 5 Gavrilova 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Deep serve sets up the off forehand winner. 15-0 Svitolina hits a forehand long. 30-0 Svitolina guesses right and hits the forehand winner. 30-15 Svitolina just misses with the backhand winner. 40-15 Battle of the forehands and Gavrilova comes out on top. Svitolina will need to serve for the first set Svitolina 5 Gavrilova 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good point from both players with Svitolina hitting a backhand wide. 0-15 Great defence from Svitolina. 15-15 Ace down the T for Svitolina. 30-15 Wild forehand from Gavrilova and its 40-15 Good forehand from Dasha forces the backhand error. 40-30 Good body serve and Elena holds Svitolina 5 Gavrilova 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
A couple of loose points in that game from Gavrilova and that proved enough for Svitolina to break Svitolina 4 Gavrilova 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Off forehand just misses from Gavrilova.0-15 Double fault, 0-30 and Gavrilova under pressure Svitolina pushed wide and nets the forehand. 15-30 Drop shot drifts wide from Dasha. 15-40 Good volleying from Gavrilova saves one break point. 30-40 Dasha approaches again and Svitolina nets the forehand. Deuce Gavrilova nets the forehand and Svitolina has another break point Backhand drifts long and Svitolina has broken Svitolina 4 Gavrilova 3