Barbara Schett and Tim Henman Express Disappointment Over Missed Opportunity for Elina Svitolina Due to Injury

Barbara Schett suggests that Elina Svitolina was likely disappointed about retiring against Linda Noskova, viewing it as a “missed opportunity” given that the draw had “opened up beautifully.” In the last-16 match at the Australian Open, Svitolina took a medical timeout after two games and ultimately concluded the contest when trailing 3-0. In her post-match remarks, Svitolina explained that she experienced a back spasm, resulting in her back being “completely locked.”

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Svitolina left the court in tears, while Noskova is set to face Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska in the quarter-finals. The highest remaining seed in that draw section is the 12th seed Qinwen Zheng, and none of the remaining players have previously reached a Grand Slam semi-final.

Eurosport expert Schett noted that Svitolina’s emotional reaction was likely due to the perceived missed opportunity, not just her back issues. Schett highlighted the potential for Svitolina to have succeeded against Yastremska, emphasizing that the draw has unfolded favorably in that section.

The top half of the draw witnessed unexpected early exits for world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, world No. 3 Elena Rybakina, and world No. 5 Jessica Pegula. Schett expressed excitement about the upsets and emerging names in this section, acknowledging the absence of top-ranked players and the unpredictability of the outcomes.

Svitolina, who returned to the tour in April after giving birth, had notable performances, reaching the French Open quarter-finals and the Wimbledon semifinals.

Motivated by representing her homeland of Ukraine, which faced a Russian invasion two years ago, Svitolina’s Australian Open aspirations were hampered by an injury. A Eurosport expert, Tim Henman expressed frustration at the setback, recognising Svitolina’s inspirational journey as a mother returning to top-level tennis. Henman empathised with the challenges of sudden injuries, emphasising the inability to move once affected by shooting pain and spasms.

Henman highlighted the disappointment of performing well in the later stages of a tournament only to face such setbacks. He commended Svitolina for prioritizing her health and expressed hope for her return to competitive play at major events in the future.

Responding to the draw seemingly opening up in her section due to surprising results, Svitolina acknowledged the strength of the field, emphasising that those who reach the later stages by defeating top-ranked players deserve to be there. Despite the challenging circumstances, she recognised the skills and form of her opponents, including Linda Noskova, who had previously defeated Iga Swiatek. Svitolina refrained from characterising the draw as “open” and acknowledged the competitive prowess of all players in the tournament.