Article by Luminița Paul – published on Friday, April 25, 2025 21:46 / Updated on Friday, April 25, 2025:26
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (30 years old, 17th WTA) advanced in the 3rd Tour of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, 6-3, 6-1 against British Sonay Kartal (23, world number 60), then talked about her daughter's passion for tennis and other sports.
Elina Svitolina ended her season 2024 after the US Open, and in September she underwent the right foot for a problem that had been tormenting her. In 2025, things begin to take shape for her, especially after the title won last week in the WTA 250 tournament in Rouen, the 18th of her career.
In Madrid, in the WTA 1000 competition where it is a favorite, after the first free round, she defeated the British Sonay Kartal, who eliminated Jaqueline Cristian. It has already exceeded the best result, the 2 tour reached in 2015, 2016 and 2018, and hopes for more.
“I had some time after Miami to train, I was in Ukraine, I also had a good training there for a good week at Billie Jean King Cup, then the title from Route, of course, and that gives me confidence,” she confessed in a discussion at Tennis Channel.
The transition to the slag season requires some adjustments, but at 30, the Ukrainian has quite clear things in mind. “Once you get experience, you better understand what you need to do, how to prepare your body very well because the slag requires your feet, you have to take care of the muscles. For me it was important to rest a little, then to build in the gym and also on the ground,” she explained.
Elina Svitolina: “She is always on the field, try to hit the balls”
Elina was absent from the world circuit, between March 2022 and March 2023, being pregnant with Skai, her daughter and Gael Monfils. This came to the world on October 15, 2022, and now it already shows a visible inclination towards sport.
Gael Monfils and his daughter, Skai, on the photo tennis court: Instagram
“Skai is very good, he likes to play tennis, he has a small rocket, but he prefers the big one, or mine, or Gael“, He revealed, amused and excited, Svitolina.”He is always on the ground, he tries to hit the balls. It's great and interesting to see it growing. She is attentive to sports, she also looks at football and likes to try different games“She added.
The two parents, both valuable players, are just waiting to go through a stage with their daughter. “It is special to us because it follows us when we play, watching TV, because most of the time or the only thing we do is play tennis,” she said.
“It is interesting to see how it grows, how something new always observes. Now she talks a lot and it's nice to discover all these things with her”, Concluded Svitolina.
3It is the best place touched by Elina Svitolina in the world ranking in 2017
As for the present season, he did not set a particular objective in terms of place in the standings or performance. “For me now it is important to stay healthy. Last year I had some problems, I ended the season early after I operated on my foot, then I returned and went directly to the Australian Open. It is crucial to focus on recovery, on those little routines that I have before training, matches, to feel good so I can give hundred percent. I know if I play well, with all the experience I have, I'm still there“She concluded.
