Elina Svitolina Makes Feelings Known on Beating Amanda Anisimova in Toronto – ‘I Was Expecting Her To Come Back’

Elina Svitolina has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Canadian Open, triumphing over Amanda Anisimova in a blockbuster fourth-round clash. After securing a comfortable victory, Svitolina shared her thoughts on her battle with the American.

Elina Svitolina Reflects on Her Canadian Open Win Over Amanda Anisimova

After triumphing over Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro and Anastasia Potapova, No. 9 seed Svitolina set up a highly anticipated battle with No. 8 seed Anisimova in the fourth round of the WTA 1000 event in Toronto.

Entering the contest with a 4-1 lead in her head-to-head record against Anisimova, Svitolina continued her dominance over the American at the Canadian Open. She raced through the opening set and went up a double break in the second. Although Anisimova fought back to save four match points, Svitolina held her nerve to secure a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

During her post-match press conference, Svitolina acknowledged that she struggled to close out the second set. She praised Anisimova as a formidable player and said that she had expected the American to make a stronger comeback before expressing satisfaction at emerging victorious.

“Yeah, it was not easy to close that second set. I think she came back, she was playing a bit better. It was not easy, with a little bit of wind, and the nature of the game, was not an easy one,” Svitolina said.

“So, yeah, I mean, she is, of course, a hell of a player, so I was expecting her to come back a little bit more. Sometimes she’s playing really sharp. So, yeah, it was not an easy one, but I’m really happy with the way I could handle the 5-4 and serve it out to close the match,” she added.

Svitolina also reflected on her own campaign at the WTA 1000 event, pointing out the improvements she had made since edging out a hard-fought 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro in her opening match.

“Well, I think I improved match by match. The second round was not the best performance from my side. But I’m happy that I went through that tough battle. Having one day off I think helped me to again find my game, work on few things, and feeling better on the court. Also physically, one day off is helping me to just be more fresh,” she said.

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Up next, Elina Svitolina will take on No. 16 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open. Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova will begin gearing up for the Cincinnati Open, aiming to make a deeper run at the WTA 1000 event, which begins on August 13.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.