WIMBLEDON/WASHINGTON, July 7, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)
Elina Svitolina, a former Top-5 player, knows all too well that there will be tough days on the tennis court. However, since becoming a mom, her perspective has changed a lot. Add a couple of satisfying wins to the mix this week at the Wimbledon Championships, which has advanced her to a third-round matchup against 2020 Australian Open titlist Sofia Kenin from the United States Friday on No. 3 Court, and it goes to show just how much the 76th-ranked Ukrainian wildcard is enjoying her fortnight at the All England Club.
Indeed, Svitolina is delighting in playing in front of amazing and supportive crowds.
The former @Wimbledon semifinalist continues to find her groove on the grass🌱@ElinaSvitolina posts an impressive victory against Mertens and moves into R3!#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/8iyeNUNTh8
— wta (@WTA) July 6, 2023
“I try to accept what comes my way,” Svitolina, 28, said in her post-match interview Thursday after defeating No. 28 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium, 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, in a breadstick exchange for her 10th win in her last 12 matches. It marked the first time Mertens had ever lost in the second round of a major, after stringing together 20 straight early-round victories. Earlier this week, Svitolina toppled five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams of the United States, 6-4, 6-3, on Centre Court.
“Sometimes, there are tough days. But I know my family is there supporting me,” Svitolina added. Her family includes her husband, French tennis star Gaël Monfils, and their baby daughter Skaï, who was born last October. Both husband and daughter are cheering on Svitolina from home in Monaco.
“Maybe it’s her nap time”
We hope your daughter was able to catch some of your win, @ElinaSvitolina 😅#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0ufH76P9Om
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2023
Following a title run in Stasbourg, France and a quarterfinal showing at the French Open last month, both on clay, Svitolina lost her only match on grass in a tune-up event in Birmingham, England. Since then, she has played motivated and aggressive tennis in beating both Williams and Mertens.
“Every match, every round and every opponent, I have a game, like a game plan that I try to execute,” Svitolina explained in her post-match press conference after striking 19 winners and converting four of five break-point chances to defeat Mertens. “Every opponent is different, playing kind of in their own way.
“I adjust my game, I adjust little bit my serve, and the game plan, depending upon the opponent.”
Moving on to the second round.@ElinaSvitolina beats five-time champion Venus Williams, 6-4, 6-3#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0JXnOuFxFX
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2023
On Friday, Svitolina (10-5) will take on Kenin, a former World No. 4 who is now ranked 128th and had to win three qualifying matches just to advance to the main draw. On opening day, the 24-year-old Russian-born American stunned No. 7 seed Coco Gauff, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, and backed it up with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over No. 73 Wang Xinyu of China on Thursday to reach the third round at Wimbledon for the first time.
“I played really well, I’m super proud of myself the way I was able to handle my nerves, because I was a bit nervous at some times,” Kenin said in her press conference after defeating Wang to even her tour-level win-loss record this season at 14-14. “I stuck to my guns, and I did a great job.”
Sofia Kenin reaches the third round of #Wimbledon for the first time, beating Xinyu Wang 6-4, 6-3 👏 pic.twitter.com/VoFNr1QiuK
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2023
Since winning the Australian Open three years ago at 21, Kenin has struggled through injuries (grade-three ankle tear) and other health maladies (emergency appendectomy and contracting the coronavirus), which dropped her ranking well outside the Top 200. A year ago, Kenin was ranked No. 426 in the world. As recently as January it was No. 280.
Now, with her father back as part of her team after she had fired him, the resurgent Kenin is starting to show signs of her old self. Recently, she upset World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in Rome on clay, and her triumph over Gauff on grass at Wimbledon was her 10th career Top-10 victory.
“This means a lot,” Kenin said in press Monday after her upset of Gauff. “I feel like this year has been not necessarily lows, but I feel like it’s a comeback year for me. I feel like I started off the year well, I was playing well. I had a good feeling that this year would be a good year for me.”
After winning back-to-back matches at a major for the first time since Roland Garros in 2021, Kenin is feeling super excited about her chances in her 21st Grand Slam main draw. The skill and tenacity that once propelled her into the Top 10 is starting to appear again at Wimbledon. “Just trying to prove some people wrong,” she said. “Just super proud of myself with the way I really fought, you know, though to get here a keeping the momentum going.
“Yeah, I’m just putting in the hard work and it’s paying off.”
Stunning Sofia 🌟
Qualifier @SofiaKenin prevails in a high-quality battle against fellow American Coco Gauff, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 🙌 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/vgewwv2RSl
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2023
Svitolina leads her career head-to-head with Kenin 3-2, with all of the previous matches occurring in 2019. “Every match that we played together was quite close,” she recalled. “Yeah, she’s back playing and, you know, is going to be another tough match for me. … So, looking forward to this battle.”
Svitolina admits she’s not surprised by how well she’s played since returning to the WTA Tour last April. “I expected to play well, and, you know, playing for so many years in the top level, you want to play well,” she said. “You want to come back to that level, you want to play in the big stages, win these big matches. So, you kind of expect, but in a way, of course, is [a] very difficult road to come back to your best form, to your best game.
#Wimbledon today 😁 pic.twitter.com/0hSwaTUgqk
— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) July 3, 2023
“I just try to not be so hard on myself when I was not winning so many matches. I knew that I was playing the right way. Just a few points I was not playing aggressive, I was out, you know, taking so much risk. And now, everything is back to good, and I’m feeling that I am in a good form now. Since Strasbourg, I have been striking the ball really well and feeling really well.
“I cannot compare it to what it was before the pregnancy. Now is very different. It’s like something new in my game. Also, my mindset is very fresh now. I’m really motivated like never before.
“Yeah, just happy with where I am right now.”
