Svitolina Starts Strong with Auckland Title Win
Elina Svitolina shook off 2025’s rough finish to claim her 19th WTA title at the ASB Classic, outlasting Xinyu Wang in a tense final that signals big things for her hard-court season.
Elina Svitolina arrived in Auckland carrying the scars of a 2025 season that unraveled with four straight losses and an injury sidelining her after the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The hard courts at the ASB Classic offered a chance to reset, and she seized it, toppling No. 7 seed Xinyu Wang 6-3, 7-6(6) in 1 hour and 42 minutes on Sunday to snag her 19th career title. As the No. 1 seed, she turned frustration into a five-match winning streak, her game clicking with the precision that once defined her peak years.
Victories over Katie Boulter in the second round and Iva Jovic in the semifinals built her rhythm, but the final tested her resolve against Wang’s steady baseline game. Svitolina’s heavy topspin forehands dug into the grippy surface, pulling Wang off the baseline with deep inside-out angles. The Ukrainian’s finals record now stands at 19-4, a mark that reflects her knack for thriving when the stakes rise.
“It definitely feels amazing to win another title, especially after a not very pleasant end of the year for me,” Svitolina said in her on-court interview. “But that break really helped me to regroup and come back with a new energy and I’m very happy that I got the title here.”
Rebuilding amid Auckland’s harbor breeze
The off-season break proved crucial, allowing Svitolina to shake the mental fog from her abrupt 2025 close. On these outdoor hard courts, similar to Melbourne’s setup, she leaned into her one–two pattern—serve followed by a crosscourt forehand—to dictate points early. Wang, rebounding from a shaky opener against Caty McNally, brought fight with her semifinal upset over Alexandra Eala, but Svitolina’s experience edged the tension.
She broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set, wrapping it in just over 30 minutes as the Auckland crowd leaned in, sensing her growing command. The harbor breeze tugged at the players, but Svitolina’s footwork stayed sharp, taking returns on the rise to redirect Wang’s flat shots down-the-line. That single break became the match’s turning point, her defense holding firm thereafter.
Serve and returns seal the tiebreak
Svitolina’s serve anchored the victory, facing four break points and saving them all while claiming 74% of her first-serve points. She varied placements—wide crosscourt slices drawing errors, body serves jamming Wang—to keep the Chinese player off balance. In the second set, holds piled up until the tiebreak, where her aggressive returns forced errors, closing it 8-6 without yielding another break.
Wang’s resilience shone through extended rallies, her power testing Svitolina’s backhand, but the Ukrainian’s composure prevailed under the stadium lights. This performance, blending tactical maturity with renewed energy, positions her for the Australian Open grind ahead. The 31-year-old’s path feels steadier now, her game attuned to the hard-court swing.
Rankings climb eyes Top 10 return
With 250 points in the bank, Svitolina projects to No. 12 in the PIF WTA Rankings on Monday, a step closer to cracking the Top 10. Defending quarterfinal points in Melbourne adds pressure, but this Auckland run suggests she can navigate it with her serve-and-return synergy intact. Wang departs with gains too, rising to No. 43 from No. 57 after her second career final, building momentum for tougher draws.
The ASB Classic crowd’s energy, buzzing through the humid evening, amplified Svitolina’s focus as she lifted the trophy. Her victory isn’t just a reset; it’s proof that experience can turn setbacks into springboards on the tour. As 2026 unfolds, expect her to push deeper, her heavy spin and mental edge ready for the majors’ demands.
