Svitolina stuns Rybakina to set up Swiatek semi-final in Rome

Elina Svitolina stunned Elena Rybakina with a dogged comeback win to reach the Italian Open semi-finals, setting up a showdown with Iga Swiatek.

Despite being swept aside in the first set, Svitolina showed her mettle to record a 2-6 6-4 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes, saving 16 of the 20 break points she faced along the way.

The two-time champion has not reached the final four in Rome since 2018, and it looked like that streak was set to extend after Rybakina raced into a 3-0 lead early on.

However, the world number two still took four set points to take an advantage, and Svitolina slowly built up her momentum from there.

The Ukrainian got the all-important break in the fifth game of the second and held her nerve against the pressure, saving all seven

break points she faced en route to forcing a decider.

Svitolina came out fighting in the third set, reeling off the first three games before the pair traded breaks and Rybakina pulled back to 4-3.

However, the Kazakh never got another opening, with Svitolina converting her first match point to book her semi-final place.

Elina SvitoWINa

Elina Svitolina battles it out against Rybakina 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to secure her spot in the semifinals.#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/BGqoRR29zG

— wta (@WTA) May 13, 2026

Data Debrief: A good omen?

Since the start of 2025, Svitolina is the fourth player to claim a comeback win over Rybakina, with the previous three going on to win the event - Leylah Fernandez (Washington), Victoria Mboko (Montreal), and Aryna Sabalenka (Indian Wells).

Svitolina has reached a third semi-final at the Italian Open, equalling the Qatar Open (three) for her most at a single WTA-1000 event.

And since the format's introduction in 2009, only two players have claimed more wins than Svitolina (24, equalling Serena Williams) at the Italian Open - Victoria Azarenka (27) and Swiatek (25).