Elina Svitolina has lifted her game to reach the semi-finals of the past two Grand Slam tournaments, but lopsided losses in both have left the Ukrainian standout searching for answers. Serena Williams, chasing her 24th Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court's all-time record, routed Svitolina 6-3, 6-1 on Thursday to reach Saturday's championship match. That followed a 6-1, 6-3 drubbing at Wimbledon by eventual champion Simona Halep and together they have left Svitolina of two minds about her Slam breakthroughs.
Svitolina tested Williams early, but failed to convert three break points in the opening game and three more in the fifth. "You are playing in front of the best tennis player in the world," Svitolina said. "If you don't take it, she just grabs it and there's no chance to take it back." Svitolina is nursing a knee strain as she prepares to leave for China to continue her campaign, if her health allows.
