Elina Svitolina achieved her first win with Raimon Sluiter as coach at her side. Moreover, it was the first for a Ukrainian, formerly No. 3 in the world, as a mother.
The 28-year-old Svitolina will compete in the ITF Championships in Chiasso, Switzerland, this week. There was a very strong 6-4, 6-2 for Romanian Elena Gabriela Rus in the first round. “Chiasu is a perfect tournament for me to play good matches and work on consistency,” said Svitolina, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist.
Svitolina is married to French tennis player Gaël Monfils, to whom she says she owes a lot in the run-up to her return. “Last winter, we got ready to come back and were able to really motivate each other. It’s important for someone to understand your goals,” the tennis star said of her husband.
Unruly leaves
Svitolina is currently No. 1344 in the world and has thus been managed in ITF tournaments, a level below WTA events. It also counts on wildcards, for example at the WTA Grand Tournament in Rome, which it hopes to participate in for a month.
The two-time winner said, “I love everything about that tournament.” I would like to do well there, just like Roland Garros.” That tournament starts on Sunday, May 28th.
Last week, Svitolina returned after being pregnant. Lost in Charleston, USA, in the first round. It meant the return of Sluiter, who in the past has accompanied the track of Kiki Bertens and Greece’s Tallon, as coach on the Tour.
Unlimited free access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.
