Svitolina suffers stunning Madrid exit, ending 8-month unbeaten run

Elina Svitolina knocked out in Madrid

According to Главком: Ukraine's top tennis star Elina Svitolina (WTA 7) has made an early exit from the WTA 1000 event in Madrid. In the second round, she fell to Hungary's Anna Bondar, ranked 63rd in the world, with a final score of 6:3, 6:4. During the second set, Svitolina called for a medical timeout due to discomfort in her left leg.

This marked the fourth meeting between the two players, with Svitolina now losing twice to Bondar. Last year, the Ukrainian defeated her opponent at Roland Garros and Wimbledon but lost at the US Open. Following this defeat, Svitolina has lost her opening match at a WTA tournament for the first time in eight months and failed to defend the ranking points from her semifinal run in Madrid last year. As a result, she has dropped to ninth place in the WTA live rankings.

Other Ukrainians still in the tournament

Four Ukrainian players remain in the Madrid draw:

• Yuliia Starodubtseva, who will face Romania's Jaqueline Cristian;
• Anhelina Kalinina, set to play against Czechia's Marie Bouzková;
• Daria Snigur, who meets Poland's Iga Świątek;
• Marta Kostyuk, preparing for a match against Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva.

Additionally, top Ukrainian players-including Svitolina, Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremska, Starodubtseva, Valeriya Oliynykova, Kalinina, and Snigur-have secured spots in the main draw of Roland Garros. The French Open is scheduled to run from May 24 to June 7, 2026, with qualifying matches taking place before the main tournament begins.

Svitolina's early exit in Madrid could affect her preparation for upcoming events, particularly Roland Garros, where she will have a chance to bounce back. Notably, other Ukrainian women continue to compete in Madrid, highlighting the steady growth of Ukrainian tennis on the global stage. Individual successes or setbacks can significantly impact overall rankings and the sport's popularity in Ukraine, especially with major tournaments on the horizon.

As Svitolina faces a challenging setback in Madrid, the tennis community is keenly observing the upcoming matches of her fellow countrywomen. Notably, the prospect of an all-Ukrainian final in Rouen adds an exciting layer to the narrative of Ukrainian tennis. To learn more about the potential matchups and the performances of other Ukrainian players, check out this article on the all-Ukrainian final in Rouen.