Madison Keys beaten by Elina Svitolina in topsy-turvy clash as Ukranian No 6 seed reaches quarter finals
- Last-16 clash between Madison Keys and Elina Svitolina swung both ways
- The Ukrainian eventually saw off her American opponent 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
- She crucially held serve after 11 deuces on her serve at 1-1 in the final set
Elina Svitolina has reached the last eight of the Australian Open after a last 16 clash against Madison Keys where the momentum swung both ways.
The Ukrainian, ranked as the No 6 seed in Melbourne, eventually saw off her American opponent 6-2, 1-6, 6-1.
She crucially held serve after 11 deuces on her serve at 1-1 in the final set, before streaking away to book her quarter final spot.
Madison Keys has been knocked out of the Australian Open by No 6 seed Elina Svitolina
Svitolina saved five break points in the marathon game, with the hold giving her the momentum to streak into a second successive Australian quarter final.
Keys has struggled with injury going into the opening major of 2019, and eventually ran out of steam in a 96-minute epic.
Of those 96 minutes, 20 were spent on that marathon third game of the third set, after the opening two sets had passed in a flash.
Svitolina will play US Open champion and No 4 seed Naomi Osaka in what promises to be a highly competitive quarter final.
Svitolina denied Keys five break points at 1-1 in the third set, before winning 6-2, 1-6, 6-1