Elina Svitolina wins bronze medal to make history for Ukraine
Photo: Reuters
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina won the women's singles bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics.
Elina Svitolina has made history for Ukraine after becoming the first ever tennis player to win a medal for the Eastern European nation.
The world number six overcame Kazakh star Elena Rybakina 1-6 7-6(5) 6-4 in two hours and 28 minutes to clinch the bronze medal.
Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters
The Ukrainian was dismantled in the first set, winning just 19 of the 51 points on offer as Rybakina put one step on the podium.
The Kazakh star continued her form in the second set and raced into a 3-1 lead before Svitolina battled back to force a decider after winning a tightly contested tie-break.
Photo Reuters
In the final set, Svitolina trailed yet again as Rybakina stormed into a 4-1 lead, though two consecutive breaks from the 26-year-old saw her clinch bronze on her seventh match point.
Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters
This is the fifth medal received by the Ukrainian team. As reported, earlier medals in their disciplines were won by shooters Olena Kostevych and Oleh Omelchuk, who became bronze medalists of the Olympics in shooting from a pneumatic pistol from ten meters, epee fencer Ihor Reizlin, judoka Daria Bilodid and swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk, who won bronze in the 800 swim meters freestyle.
