“Happy to share the journey”: Svitolina cruises into AO second round as Monfils begins farewell tour

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the 12th seed, began her Australian Open campaign in clinical fashion on Sunday, defeating Spaniard Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-1.

The victory extends Svitolina’s remarkable consistency in Melbourne opening rounds, where she now holds a 12-1 record, with her last first-round exit dating back to 2013. Coming off a quarterfinal run last year, Svitolina appeared to be in lethal form, dropping only one game in a swift second set to secure her place in the round of 64.

Beyond her on-court performance, the match was marked by a poignant moment regarding her husband, Gael Monfils, who was in the stands to support her. With 2026 expected to be the final professional season for the French veteran, Svitolina spoke warmly about their partnership during her post-match interview.

“Happy to share the journey”

When asked about the benefit of having him in her corner, she said, “We enjoy a lot, supporting each other in every single tournament. Having someone who understands and supports you every step of the way is special for us. And for him especially this year it’s gonna be very unique and with lots of different emotions. It’s going to be very enjoyable. From my side, I just have to be there for him. Just happy to share the journey.”

Svitolina, currently ranked No 12, will next face the winner of the match between Polish qualifier Linda Klimovicova and Britain’s Francesca Jones. Given her sharp start and emotional focus, she remains a formidable threat as she looks to build on her status as a perennial deep-draw contender in the year’s opening Grand Slam.

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