It’s time to question whether Elina Svitolina’s decision to have a child and take a year away from tennis to raise money for her compatriots in Ukraine has made her a better player. According to Svitolina herself, it has, and there’s no reason not to believe her. Svitolina’s impressive run at Wimbledon continued on Tuesday when she defeated Iga Swiatek, the current world No. 1, in a thrilling match. Playing with determination and purpose, Svitolina matched Swiatek shot for shot and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
After the match, Svitolina couldn’t believe her own success. She hugged Swiatek, raised her arms in disbelief, and told the crowd, “I don’t know what is happening right now.” Some things are just hard to explain.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 18 months ago, Svitolina took a break from tennis to focus on her pregnancy and raising money for war relief efforts in her homeland. Tennis was not a priority during this time, but she didn’t let that stop her from contributing. Her foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars since the war began. In October, Svitolina and her husband Gaël Monfils announced the birth of their daughter, Skai. Shortly after, Svitolina started training for her return to the WTA Tour.
Initially, Svitolina struggled to find her form after returning to tennis. She lost six of her first seven matches, but gradually regained her touch and competitive spirit. She made it clear during the French Open that tennis was no longer about money or ranking points for her—it was about bringing joy to the people of Ukraine. And that’s exactly what she did as she advanced to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
Svitolina had low expectations for Wimbledon, having only reached the second round twice in her previous eight attempts. She even bought tickets to a Harry Styles concert, assuming she would have free time. However, her unexpected success at the tournament changed her plans. After her victory over Swiatek, Svitolina mentioned that she might not be able to attend the concert, despite Styles’s invitation.
Her focus now is on the semifinal match against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic. A win in that match could potentially set up a finals showdown with Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus or Elena Rybakina, the defending champion from Kazakhstan. However, Svitolina knows it won’t be an easy road, especially considering the tensions between players from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. Last year, players from Russia and Belarus were not allowed to participate in the tournament, and Svitolina and other Ukrainian players have refused to shake hands with players from those countries.
In her match against Swiatek, Svitolina displayed incredible skill and composure. Despite Swiatek initially taking control of the match, Svitolina fought back and won 16 of the final 18 points in the first set. Even as rain started to fall and the roof closed, Swiatek struggled to find answers for her mistakes. Svitolina remained solid and consistent, hitting precise shots time and time again.
Svitolina attributes her recent success to the inspiration she gets from her child in Ukraine. She frequently watches videos of her daughter watching her matches on a phone and understands the significance of her victories. The war in Ukraine has made Svitolina mentally stronger and more resilient. She no longer sees difficult situations as disasters and remains calm in the face of pressure.
After her match, Svitolina called her husband over FaceTime to check in on their daughter. Skai was more interested in her serving of ice cream than talking to her mother. Svitolina remains focused on her goals and doesn’t believe she was meant to come this far in the tournament. She’s not letting her husband attend the matches, as he hasn’t been there yet, and she doesn’t want to disrupt her routine. Svitolina finds motivation and responsibility when playing against opponents from Russia and Belarus.
For now, Svitolina’s sights are set on the upcoming matches and winning the tournament. She insists that it feels far away, despite how close it seems. With her strong determination and newfound purpose, Svitolina is a force to be reckoned with on the court.
