“Thanks to my husband who tells me I'm not good at speeches”

On Saturday, May 16, Elina Svitolina completed an extraordinary tournament, managing to win the WTA 1000 Rome for the 3rd time, after the titles in 2017 and 2018, when she defeated Simona Halep in the final.

Elina Svitolina praises Coco Gauff: “You are an extraordinary champion”

This time, the Ukrainian beat Coco Gauff, world number 4, after two hours and 52 minutes.

“It's really hard to believe that it's been 8 years since I last had this trophy here. I'm very, very happy, obviously, with the two weeks I've had here. First of all, I want to congratulate Coco for a great tournament and congratulate her team as well. You are an amazing champion and I hope to have more duels with you in the future”, said Svitolina, at the beginning of her speech.

“Then I want to thank my team. I had a tough loss this year in the final in Dubai. I have 19 titles and I was hoping to get to 20. I told my coach that it would be nice to end my career with a round number. He replied that he hopes we get there this year,” added the 31-year-old player.

Svitolina thanked her team members and then moved on to her family, revealing what Gael Monfils, her husband, is telling her.

“Thanks to my husband who tells me I'm not good at speeches. I hope it's not such a bad speech this time” the world number 10 said with a laugh.

Elina Svitolina, message to Ukrainians: “I felt your love. Thank you!”

She thanked the organizers and then addressed the audience.

“Obviously, thanks to you, the fans, too. These two weeks, we've played some very late matches and it's been incredible to see you stay up so late and support us day and night. It's just incredible. You always make this tournament very special and it's one of my favorites,” Svitolina said.

“I also want to thank all the people in Ukraine who supported me, watched my matches late at night, from the shelters. It's been a very tough few weeks for Ukraine and I want to thank you for all your support and for looking to watch the games and support me from afar. I felt your love. thank you Glory to Ukraine!“, concluded the champion from Rome.

Elina Svitolina's journey to the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome

• Round 2: 6-1, 6-3 vs. Noemi Basiletti (20 years old, 427 WTA)

• Round 3: 6-1, 6-2 vs. Hailey Baptiste (24 years old, 25 WTA)

• Optimum finals: 6-2, 6-3 vs. Nikola Bartunkova (20 years old, 94 WTA)

• Quarter finals: 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 vs. Elena Rybakina (26 years old, 2 WTA)

• Semifinals: 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 vs. Iga Swiatek (24 years old, 3 WTA)

• Final: 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 vs. Coco Gauff (22 years old, 4 WTA)