World number 13 and emerging Ukrainian with world number 1 aspirations: Elina Svitolina has evidently made the most of her brief, Australian Open 2017 3rd round exit enforced break after defeat at the hands of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Blowing off the cobwebs
The feral 22 year old, Svitolina wasted little time in disposing of 27 year old Russian, Evgeniya Rodina 6-0, 6-3 in a mere 59 minutes. Gaining small revenge for her defeat at the hands of a Russian at the Aussie Open, recently. This victory earns her a 2nd round clash with Czech: Lucie Hradecka.
There is no head-to-head to scrutinise between the likable Ukrainian and her next opponent. That said, it should not really be necessary to have that to come to the conclusion that Svitolina should outclass her wily, 31 year old rival. France's Caroline Garcia, represent the biggest obstacle to overcome in this particular tournament.
Svitolina definitely needs to hit more backhand winners than she has done this year, as it is not a weakness she wants to take into her next Grand Slam: the French Open 2017. This, is arguably her best chance of winning one.
Realising her immense promise
A WTA tournament victory in Taipei, would certainly be a welcomed 1st title of what promises to be a good tennis season for her and, would be her fifth WTA singles title.
What would be even better about a victory in this tournament - is that it would once and for all demonstrate Svitolina's bouncebackability. Something that is a must-have quality if you are to jump ahead of the likes of Halep, Keys and Konta in the queue to be next to sample the delights and kudos of a 1st Grand Slam victory.
Australian Open 2017 disappointment aside, remembering that this was not really her preferred Grand Slam anyway, Svitolina is steadily showing that she is still very much one of the players to follow on the WTA this year and in the future.
Svitolina, has been hampered by injury at the start of the season, but she is continuing to build her fitness and her confidence. All very much bodes well for the French Open 2017.
