Olympics, Monfils, Ukraine: All you ever wanted to know about Elina Svitolina (but never had time to find out) – updated with foot surgery and ending 2024 season
Elina Svitolina has been ranked as high as No 3 and continues to blaze a trail for Ukrainian tennis. Here’s everything you need to know about her
Elina Svitolina
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Who is Elina Svitolina?
Elina Svitolina is a Ukrainian tennis player. She has been ranked as high as No 3 in the WTA rankings and has won 17 titles in all, as well as becoming the first Ukrainian player ever to win an Olympic medal when she won the bronze in Tokyo in 2021.
Why did Elina Svitolina split from coach Raemon Sluiter?
After 17 months together, Eina Svitolina announced in July 2024 that she and her coach Raemon Sluiter were parting ways. Sluiter had helped Svitolina get back to the top 20 after pregnancy and was instrumental in her return to top form. At the US Open in August, Svitolina explained that she was trying to figure out how much she wants to play, focusing on her physical and mental health.
“He’s a very nice person and a good coach,” she said. “It’s just, for me, it was a moment where I want to to see where I am physically and how I want to move forward, also with the tournaments, if I want to play maybe a little bit less tournaments, because I want to take care of my fitness. It was a mixture of different things. It was a mutual decision. After a good talk, it was the best decision for me to take.”
Who is Elina Svitolina’s coach NOW?
After parting ways with Sluiter, Svitolina re-hired Andrew Bettles, the Englishman who had guided her for more than five years until October 2021. Bettles was initially a hitting partner but became Svitolina’s full-time coach in 2019.
Marcos Baghdatis, the former Australian Open runner-up, was part of her team in 2020. In the past, Svitolina has been coached by Sébastien Mathieu, Gabriel Urpi and Nick Saviano. Former pro players Justine Henin and Thierry Ascione each worked with her as consultants.
is svitolina playing the autumn swing in 2024?
No. Elina Svitolina ended her 2024 season after the US Open, where she lost to Coco Gauff in the third round, primarily because of a foot injury which has bothered her for a while now.
“I had a good season, I already finished it because I got injured. To finish this year in the top 30 is a good result, considering that I was injured more [of the time] this season. The Olympics went well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring home a medal, but there were great victories. Did I manage to approach the Games at the peak of my form, given the injury? No, I didn’t manage to do so at the peak,” Svitolina said.
“I didn’t play as I wanted in the following tournaments because I was injured. I wanted more, I wanted to play better. Now I will treat my injuries. I hope that I can start my next season better.”
The Ukrainian underwent surgery for the injury and is looking forward to the courts in 2025.
What did Elina Svitolina do at the 2024 Australian Open?
Elina Svitolina reached the fourth round of the 2024 Australian Open without dropping a set – but then had to retire from her match against Linda Noskova due to a back spasm.
What did Elina Svitolina accomplish at Wimbledon 2023?
Elina Svitolina reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon 2023 after scoring a three-set win over world No 1 Iga Swiatek. The Ukrainian received a wildcard into the tournament and reached her second semi-final at the All England Club after an emotional run, before losing to eventual champion, Marketa Vondrousova.
What did Svitolina achieve at the 2023 French Open?
Elina Svitolina reached the quarter-finals of 2023 Roland-Garros less than a year after giving birth to her first child. She lost in the last eight to Aryna Sabalenka, 6-4, 6-4, but the run in Paris assured her return to the Top 100 of the WTA rankings
She returned to the WTA Tour in April 2023 at the WTA Charleston Open after a year away from the sport.
Is Elina Svitolina married to Gael Monfils?
The pair have been married since July 2021. On October 15, 2022, Svitolina announced the birth of her daughter, Skai, with husband Gael Monfils.
The couple first announced they were together during the 2019 Australian Open, where the Frenchman showed up in the Ukrainian’s box for her matches. The pair were very public on social media and created a joint Instagram account, named “g.e.m.s life”, after their initials.
What has Elina Svitolina said about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
Elina Svitolina has been one of the most outspoken players about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, detailing her fears and anger at the situation in several social media posts and statements. The 28-year-old said she would not play against Russian or Belarusian players unless they did so without being under Russia’s flag. Svitolina’s pleas were heard and on March 1, 2022, the WTA, ATP and ITF issued a combined statement to outline their sanctions.
She spoke about her refusal to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players at the 2023 French Open, saying: “I’m standing for my country. I’m doing everything possible in the way to support, to give a good spirit for the men, for the women who are right now in the front line who are fighting for our land, for our country.
“So can you imagine the guy or a girl who is right now in a front line, you know, looking at me and I’m, like, acting like nothing is happening. I’m representing my country. I have a voice. I’m standing with Ukraine. I’m standing, I have my position in this war. What is Russian government or Russian soldiers are doing on our land is really, really terrible.”
During Roland-Garros 2024, she called on Wimbledon tournament organisers to offer assistance to Ukrainian players, as they had done in previous years.
What did Elina Svitolina do at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021?
Elina Svitolina won the bronze medal for Ukraine in the Tokyo Olympics, beating Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, to claim the first Olympic tennis medal in her country’s history.
HOW MANY TITLES HAS ELINA SVITOLINA WON?
Svitolina has won 17 titles worldwide. Her first title came in Baku in 2013 when she was just 18. Her most recent title came when she won in Strasbourg, France, in 2023, her first since returning to the Tour after having her first child.
What nationality is Elina Svitolina?
Elina Svitolina is Ukrainian. She was born in Odessa on September 25, 1994. She explained in 2017 that she received lucrative offers to change citizenship, but she turned them down.
Where does Elina Svitolina live?
Svitolina officially still lives in Odessa, her native city. But she bought a London residence, close to the All England Club, where Wimbledon is held. She also spends time in Monte-Carlo and in Dubai. Svitolina lived in Kharkiv when she was a teenager, moving there at 13 with her family because she was then sponsored by businessman Yuriy Sapronov.
How tall is Elina Svitolina?
Svitolina is 5ft 9in tall (1.74m), according to her WTA profile.
When did Elina Svitolina begin to play tennis?
Svitolina made her tennis debut at age 5, to emulate her older brother Yulian and get more attention from her father. She first rose to prominence when she won the girls’ title at the French Open in 2010, defeating Tunisian Ons Jabeur in final. The Ukrainian also reached the 2012 Wimbledon juniors final (lost to Canadian Eugenie Bouchard).
When did Elina Svitolina turn pro?
Svitolina came onto the WTA tour in 2010. At the age of just 16, she reached the final of the ITF 25K tournament in Kharkiv. She broke through in 2012, when she qualified for the US Open main draw (lost in the first round against Ana Ivanovic) and won a 125K tournament in Pune. She clinched her first WTA title in Baku in 2013.
HOW MUCH PRIZE MONEY HAS ELINA SVITOLINA WON?
As of September 20, 2024, Svitolina has earned $24,309,612 in prize money since the beginning of her career on the WTA Tour. She is endorsed by Nike. She previously had clothing deals with Ellesse and Lacoste. Svitolina uses a Wilson racquet, the Blade 98 V7 model.
Who are Elina Svitolina’s idols?
Svitolina was an Andre Agassi fan growing up. In other sports, she admired American basketball player Kobe Bryant. Her favorite artists are Eminem, AC/DC and Bruno Mars, according to her WTA profile.
