Calmness prevailed. No hurry. Just one decisive shot at the crucial moment.
With the second set tied at 5-all, Elina Svitolina chose her moment. After an intense rally pushing both players across the court, the Ukrainian star unleashed a powerful forehand down the line – a shot with no room for error, hit without hesitation. It was a clean winner, and her reaction spoke volumes: a triumphant roar breaking the quiet of the arena in Rouen.
That decisive point paved the way for her 6-4, 7-6 (8) victory over Olga Danilovic, securing Svitolina`s first title of the year (2025 according to the source, likely a typo for 2024) and her 18th career title. The final match, lasting just under two hours, remained tightly contested; though Svitolina maintained control, she didn`t find comfort until the closing moments.
As the top seed in Rouen, Svitolina navigated the tournament without dropping a single set. Her game displayed sharp, physical tennis, but her true advantage lay in the nuances – her understanding of when to defend, when to attack, and when to take calculated risks.
This victory marks her first title since Strasbourg in 2023, signifying another steady step in her composed return to the elite level of the sport.
Ultimately, in a match filled with challenging moments, it was a single, perfectly executed forehand that proved decisive.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth