Elina Svitolina Makes Sensational Return: Upsets Top Seed in Thrilling French Open Clash

Elina Svitolina’s surge at Roland Garros 2025 is gathering pace after the Ukrainian rallied from a set down and saved three match points to stun Jasmine Paolini 4-6 7-6(5) 6-1, booking a blockbuster quarter-final against world No. 1 Iga Świątek. Back in the top 20 less than two years after maternity leave, the 30-year-old from Odesa now stands one win from her first French Open semi-final—a milestone she has chased since debuting on Court Philippe-Chatrier in 2011. Road to the quarters • 1R: d. B. Pera 6-2 6-2 • 2R: d. A. Tomljanović 6-4 6-3 • 3R: d. A. Potapova 7-5 6-4 • 4R: d. J. Paolini 4-6 7-6 6-1 Key storylines to watch Resurgent form: Svitolina owns 26 victories this season, the most of any player outside the top 10, and has already collected a WTA 500 title in Stuttgart. Mom power: She is bidding to become the first mother to reach a Roland Garros semi-final since Kim Clijsters in 2012. Head-to-head: Świątek leads 2-1; Svitolina’s lone win came in last year’s Wimbledon quarters. Ukrainian pride: The former world No. 3 said her war-torn homeland “gives me extra fuel every time I step on court,” dedicating each win to those back home. Match time, TV and streaming The quarter-final is scheduled third on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday, 4 June, not before 2:30 p.m. local (8:30 a.m. ET). In the United States, live coverage airs on Tennis Channel, while a free trial stream is available via Servus TV in Austria and Stan Sport in Australia. VPN users can access those feeds worldwide. Stat spotlight • Break-point conversion: 47 % this tournament (22/47) • First-serve points won: 69 % • Return winners vs. Paolini: 18, her personal Roland Garros best Quotes “Iga has set the bar on clay, but nothing feels impossible after saving those match points,” Svitolina told reporters. “The dream is alive.” What a win means Victory would catapult Svitolina back into the WTA top 10 and make her the first Ukrainian woman to reach the final four in Paris. It would also guarantee at least €770,000 in prize money—vital funding, she notes, for her charitable foundation aiding war refugees. SEO keywords: Elina Svitolina, French Open 2025 quarter-final, Świątek vs Svitolina live, Roland Garros schedule, Ukrainian tennis comeback, how to watch Svitolina match live.