"These moments spent with my daughter give me the necessary energy to move forward," says Svitolina
Elina Svitolina, a reliable force on the tour, has had to find the balance between her role as a mom and her role as a professional player for several years now.
Ranked 14th in the world, Svitolina had a very solid 2025 season. In the running to qualify for the WTA Finals until the US Open, the Ukrainian then faltered, losing in the first round at Flushing Meadows to Anna Bondar before failing to qualify her country for the BJK Cup final when she was just five points away from qualification against Jasmine Paolini and Italy.
Subsequently, the 31-year-old player decided to skip the Asian tour for the third consecutive year (four if you count 2022 when she was off the tour due to her pregnancy) and ended her season. In an interview, Svitolina discussed the new balance she is trying to find, particularly between her career and her role as a mother.
"In professional tennis, we spend a lot of time away from home, and even when I am at home, I spend most of the day on the court, in the gym, or in recovery. It takes up almost my entire day. It's a big sacrifice for tennis, for the results.
Sometimes, I would like to spend more time with my daughter, but I cherish every minute we spend together. These moments spent with her give me the necessary energy to move forward and achieve my goals.
Rest is very important for me. I can take care of all the necessary tasks, or simply be alone in peace and quiet. These are incredible moments: it's just me and my laptop, even if everything around me is noisy. It helps me to focus, to feel calm, and to recharge.
I really value rest and sleep, today more than ever. Sometimes, even the act of 'switching roles,' meaning being a mother, a wife, and an athlete, gives me a feeling of renewal and refreshes me mentally.
I am constantly surrounded by a lot of people: my coach, my fitness trainer, my physiotherapist, my mother, our daughter's nanny. Everyone needs to be coordinated. Gaël (Monfils, her husband) also helps me. It's not very difficult for me.
Of course, it takes a lot of time, but when I know exactly what to do and when to do it, it becomes easier. And, of course, different apps and different devices help me organize my day and my schedule.
It's not easy, but in my opinion, technology makes our lives considerably easier and we should take advantage of it. It's a big responsibility, but I love the pressure, I feel it allows me to thrive.
My life is very active, but that's precisely what motivates me to get up every morning and do my best," she stated for the local media Tribuna in recent hours.
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