Elina Svitolina`s perfect start to the 2025 clay-court season continues, as she remains undefeated and hasn`t lost a single set on the surface so far this year.
The Ukrainian, seeded 17th, extended her impressive run on clay by defeating Kazakhstan`s Elena Rybakina, the No. 10 seed, in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday night. Svitolina won the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
The match lasted 1 hour and 24 minutes. This victory for Svitolina eliminates Rybakina, a semifinalist in Madrid last year, and brings their career head-to-head record to an even 3-3. Svitolina now holds a 2-1 advantage against Rybakina on clay.
Here are some notable statistics from the match:
1: This marks Svitolina`s first-ever appearance in the Round of 16 at the Madrid Open. Despite her strong credentials on clay, including consecutive WTA 1000 titles in Rome (2017, 2018), her previous record in Madrid was a modest 5-9. She had faced five consecutive defeats at the tournament before securing her two wins this year.
9: Svitolina`s current 9-0 streak on clay in 2025 might be the key to improving her Madrid performance. Her clay season began with two wins in the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers, followed by winning the title in Rouen last week. The Rouen title is her seventh on clay and 18th overall on the WTA tour, and her first since winning in Strasbourg on clay in 2023.
Including the BJK Cup matches, Svitolina`s nine consecutive victories represent her longest winning streak on any surface since 2021, when she won nine matches in a row across tournaments in Chicago and the US Open.
2: Svitolina displayed remarkable composure, not facing a break point until a critical moment at 6-3, 4-3. In that game, Rybakina earned her only two break opportunities of the match with powerful forehands. Svitolina calmly saved both, first with a strong backhand rally and then with an unreturnable serve, ultimately holding serve to secure the win without being broken.
48: While Rybakina hit significantly more winners (24) compared to Svitolina (10), her performance was hampered by a high number of unforced errors (48), exactly double her winner count.
1-6: Following this match, Rybakina`s record against Top 20 opponents in 2025 stands at 1-6. Her sole victory against a Top 20 player this year was against Paula Badosa in Dubai. Rybakina is currently ranked World No. 11, marking her first week outside the Top 10 since January 2023.
3: The tournament in Madrid has been successful for Ukrainian players, with three representatives reaching the Round of 16. Svitolina is joined in the second week by No. 24 seed Marta Kostyuk and qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva.
2-2: In the next round, Svitolina, a former World No. 3, will face another player who has reached the same peak ranking: Maria Sakkari of Greece. Sakkari advanced by defeating No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini on Sunday. Their head-to-head record is currently tied at 2-2, and this upcoming match will be their first meeting on clay.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth