Elina Svitolina’s unbeaten run against Russian players came to an end at the WTA 250 Upper Austria Ladies Linz, where she suffered a 4-6, 4-6 defeat to Anna Blinkova. The world No. 28 had won seven consecutive matches against Russian opponents since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war but was unable to extend that streak.
Since 2022, the 30-year-old Ukrainian has been one of the most outspoken players regarding the conflict, refusing to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents—a stance later adopted by fellow Ukrainians Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremska, and Anhelina Kalinina.
A former world No. 3, Svitolina has been deeply involved in supporting Ukraine, visiting war-torn areas, meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and even being photographed holding a rocket launcher.
Her flawless 8-0 record against Russian players since the war began was snapped by world No. 83 Blinkova in Linz. Svitolina had won their two previous encounters but struggled in this match, falling in straight sets despite being the second seed.
Looking ahead, Svitolina will shift her focus to the Middle East Swing, where she is set to compete in the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai. Meanwhile, Blinkova moves into the quarterfinals, where she will take on Clara Tauson. The Danish rising star is in red-hot form, holding a 9-1 record in 2025, with her only loss coming against Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open. Tauson has already secured a title this season in Hobart and will be looking to continue her strong run.