Top-seeded Elina Svitolina claimed her 19th WTA title Sunday, Jan. 11, defeating Wang Xinyu 6-3, 7-6(8) in the ASB Classic final in Auckland, New Zealand. The Ukrainian star saved all four break points she faced, won 74 percent of first-serve points, and secured the only break of the match at 4-2 in the first set before sealing the second-set tiebreak.

Svitolina ended a four-match skid from late 2025 due to injury with a five-match winning streak at the WTA 250 event. The victory marked a strong start to the year, reestablishing her confidence ahead of the Australian Open later this month.

Svitolina controls the court

Svitolina’s consistency on serve and tactical shot selection allowed her to dictate play throughout the match. She neutralized Wang’s attacking shots and maintained calm under pressure, particularly in the tiebreak of the second set.

Her ability to win key points and capitalize on break opportunities proved decisive. Wang, the seventh seed, challenged Svitolina but could not convert opportunities, allowing the top seed to maintain control.

Svitolina’s win demonstrates her resilience after a tough end to 2025. She showed both mental toughness and match fitness, combining strong baseline play with efficient service games to prevent Wang from gaining momentum.

Wang pushes but falls short

The 24-year-old Wang reached her second career WTA final after defeating the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala in the semifinals on Saturday. Wang previously made a WTA final on grass in Berlin last June, where she lost to Marketa Vondrousova.

Despite her strong tournament run and competitive play in the second set, Wang could not overcome Svitolina’s experience and precision. The ASB Classic final adds to Wang’s growing profile on the WTA Tour, but Svitolina’s consistent pressure proved too much for the young Chinese player. [Xinhua]