[4] Simona Halep (ROU) vs. [6] Elina Svitolina (UKR)
This should be an interesting battle as they are knotted up at one match a piece. Svitolina won their last encounter this year, which was on clay. There will an extra motivation for Halep to win this encounter because she wants to avenge that loss. Psychologically they will both have to battle their emotions. The prize at stake for both players is huge, the possibility of winning their first Major title. The burden of expectation seems to inspire some players, while some seem to struggle with the pressure. Halep does not enjoy carrying that burden and has crumbled under the weight on previous occasions. Can she master her emotions and fight through to defeat Svitolina?
Svitolina will also have to fight through her emotions and she has the advantage of recently defeating her opponent on clay in her memory bank. Will it be enough to stop Halep, who has been playing such clean an efficient tennis in this tournament? It will be a battle, no doubt about it and I am curious to see who will be victorious. I think Halep is ready for the challenge, but so too is Svitolina. I think the slight advantage may be in favor of Halep who is such a great mover on this surface. But so too is Svitolina. In other words, this could go either way. May both players bring their top form and may the best player win.
SCORES: Halep defeated [21] Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-1.
Svitolina defeated [290] Petra Martic 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 (she had to come back from a 2-5 deficit in the third set and really won this match because her opponent fell victim to her nerves brought on by the magnitude of what she was about to accomplish).
SOURCE OF IMAGES: Bing search (picture with ball is Halep).
