Top three seeds Svitolina, Muguruza and Bencic reach Chicago semis

Svitolina remains undefeated in Chicago this year as she reaches the quarter-finals for the 10th time on tour this year

Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine in action during the second round of the 2021 Chicago Fall Tennis Classic WTA 500 tennis tournament Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

October 1, 2021

Top seed Elina Svitolina defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse, of Romania, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA Chicago Fall Tennis Classic on Thursday.

The win means Svitolina remains undefeated (7-0) in Chicago this year after winning the Chicago Women’s Open prior to the US Open.

The Ukrainian is now through to the quarter-final stage for the 10th time this year. She will next face sixth seed Ons Jabeur, who defeated ninth seed Jessica Pegula 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Second seed Garbine Muguruza advanced to the quarter-finals after former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka withdrew from their round of 16 clash.

The Spaniard will face 22-year-old qualifier Mai Hontama. The Japanese player, ranked No. 200 in the world, continued her fairytale WTA main draw debut with a 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-1 win over American Shelby Rogers.

Meanwhile, Olympic silver medalist Marketa Vondrousova defeated 16th seed Jil Teichmann, 6-4, 6-3 to book a last eight clash against in-form American Danielle Collins. 10th seeded Collins scored a 6-2, 6-4 win over Belgian Elise Mertens.

Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, seeded third in Chicago, deflated Czech woman Tereza Martincova 6-2, 7-6(5) and will next face fifth seed Elena Rybakina, who scored a 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Veronika Kudermetova.