Elina Svitolina`s flawless clay-court season continues in 2025. She remains undefeated and hasn`t lost a single set on the surface so far this year.
The Ukrainian, seeded 17th, extended this impressive run with a dominant 6-3, 6-4 win against Kazakhstan`s Elena Rybakina, the No. 10 seed, in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday evening.
Taking just 1 hour and 24 minutes, Svitolina eliminated Rybakina, a semifinalist in Madrid last year. This victory brings their career head-to-head record to an even 3-3, with Svitolina now holding a 2-1 advantage on clay courts.
Key statistics from the match include:
1: This marks the first time Svitolina has reached the Round of 16 in Madrid. Despite her strong clay-court pedigree, including consecutive WTA 1000 titles in Rome (2017, 2018), her previous record in Madrid was a modest 5-9, with five straight losses before her two wins this year.
9: Her 9-0 start to the 2025 clay season highlights a significant turnaround. This streak includes two Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier wins and the Rouen title last week. Rouen was her seventh career clay-court title and 18th WTA title overall, her first in nearly two years since winning Strasbourg on clay in 2023.
Including the BJK Cup ties, Svitolina`s current nine-match winning streak is her longest on any surface since she won nine consecutive matches across Chicago and the US Open in 2021.
2: Svitolina faced only two break points throughout the entire match, both occurring in a crucial game at 6-3, 4-3. She successfully saved both with composed play and strong serving, ultimately winning the match without dropping her serve.
48: Rybakina registered more winners than Svitolina (24 to 10), but her performance was hampered by a high count of unforced errors, totaling 48 – exactly double her winner count.
1-6: Following Sunday`s match, Rybakina`s record against Top 20 ranked players this year stands at 1-6. Her sole victory against a Top 20 opponent in 2025 was against Paula Badosa in Dubai. Rybakina is currently ranked World No. 11, marking her first week outside the Top 10 since January 2023.
3: Madrid has been a successful tournament for Ukrainian players this year, with three representatives reaching the Round of 16. Svitolina joins fellow Ukrainian players Marta Kostyuk (seeded No. 24) and qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva in the second week.
2-2: Svitolina`s next challenge will be against Greece`s Maria Sakkari, another player who has reached a career-high ranking of World No. 3. Sakkari advanced by defeating No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini earlier on Sunday. Their head-to-head record is tied at 2-2, and this upcoming match will be their first meeting on clay.
