Svitolina caps emotional return with Auckland title after 15-week sabbatical
Elina Svitolina won the final on Sunday night against Xinyu Wang.
Elina Svitolina, Auckland 2026 | © Photosport / PsNewz
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the top seed, clinched the ASB Classic title by defeating China’s Xinyu Wang, the No. 7 seed, 6-3, 7-6(6) on Sunday. This marks the 19th career title for the Ukrainian, and her first in Auckland following a runner-up finish in 2024. She celebrated the victory with an emotional embrace in the stands with her husband, Gaël Monfils, and her coach, Andrew Bettles.
“This one was very special because my husband won it last year,” Svitolina said during the on-court interview. “This year he told me, ‘If you don’t win this year, I don’t know what to tell you anymore.’”
Svitolina trailed 0-3 in the second-set tiebreak before roaring back. Wang Xinyu saved one championship point at 5-6, but Svitolina converted her second opportunity to win the tiebreak 8-6. Svitolina was perfect on break points, saving 4 out of 4. She only managed one break of serve in the entire match (at 4-2 in the first set), highlighting how clinical she was in the big moments.
With 19 career titles following her Auckland triumph, Elina Svitolina now holds the fourth-most titles among active WTA players, trailing only Venus Williams (49), Iga Świątek (25), and the duo of Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka (21), maintaining an incredible 19-4 record in tournament finals.
“Emotional space” needed
“I want to thank my team here,” she added. “I’ve had some injuries in past years. The most important thing is the people who are around you.” Elina Svitolina’s decision to cut her 2025 season short in September proved to be a vital way to refresh both mentally and emotionally, allowing her to step away from the tour while still ranked inside the world’s top 15.
This hiatus was distinct from her 2024 break for foot surgery, as she explicitly cited the need for “emotional space” to navigate the dual pressures of motherhood and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite a strong year featuring two Grand Slam quarterfinals, she admitted to losing her competitive identity following a first-round exit at the US Open and a grueling Billie Jean King Cup appearance.
“Best decision possible”
Now back on court in Auckland, Svitolina has framed the sabbatical as the “best decision” possible, arriving in the new year with a renewed perspective that she felt was unattainable without that total detachment from the game.
Svitolina is now 5-0 before going to the Australian Open. In In the previous rounds, Svitolina, ranked No 13, defeated American Iva Jovic, the No 3 seed (7-6 (5), 6-2), Englishwoman Sonay Kartal (6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5)), English wildcard Katie Boulter (7-5, 6-4) and Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva (6-3, 6-1).
Wang, ranked No 57, defeated Filipino Alexandra Eala, the No 4 seed (5-7, 7-5, 6-4), Englishwoman Francesca Jones (6-4, 4-3 ret.), Mexican Renata Zarazua (7-5, 6-4) and American Catherine McNally (2-6, 6-3, 7-5) earlier in the tournament.
