The WTA tour's newest mom was back on court on Monday on Charleston's green clay courts, and though she didn't come away with a win, fans of Elina Svitolina should come away encouraged for what the future will hold.
The 28-year-old Ukrainian and former world No. 3 had a daughter, Skaï with husband and ATP pro Gael Monfils in October, and just missed out on a first-round win at the Credit One Charleston Open to start her comeback: She lost to world No. 47 Yulia Putintseva 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-2 in 2 hours and 46 minutes. Playing the WTA 500 event on Daniel Island for the first time in nine years, the 2019 US Open semifinalist told Tennis Channel's Steven Weismann after the match that she was overwhelmed by the reception she received in-stadium from the Lowcountry's knowledgeable tennis faithful—and that, all told, her first tennis match in 13 months felt like a victory.
"I had goosebumps," Svitolina said. "It was a really, really sweet atmosphere out there. It was so nice to see many people, and they were really cheering me on to push through some tough moments. It was not easy physically for me today, but in the end, I'm really happy with the way I played today. Now, I can see more clear what I need to improve to be better.
"I think I'm hitting the ball well. I just have to work more on my fitness. I think a few bits here and there are gonna help me to keep the focus more consistently, to be there in the moment, I think a few things here and there are going to make a difference for me."
While sidelined from tennis, Svitolina has been making a difference for her war-torn homeland. She announced last March, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, that she'd be taking a break from tennis, and announced her pregnancy a month later. The highest-ranking Ukrainian in tennis history, Svitolina's namesake charity foundation has been raising funds and collecting humanitarian aid since the war began last year, and the next installment in that effort could be seen in Charleston: Svitolina emceed a charity pro-am on the eve of the event that featured more than a dozen of her fellow WTA players, including countrywoman Anhelina Kalinina, and two dozen amateurs, which raised $100,000 for the Tennis Plays for Peace initiative.
"I'm really thankful for this opportunity, that the tournament made all this effort, the players as well who were there; I'm really thankful for this," she said. "I'm sure these funds will go to help people of Ukraine. We really need ... these funds for Ukrainian people these days.
"We try to make everything possible to raise money, to raise awareness that the war is still there ... We're here, we're Ukrainian, so we try to do everything that's in our power."
While she was cheered on in her return by a capacity crowd in Charleston, Svitolina said that the biggest support for her career's second chapter comes from her two biggest fans back at home, even if baby Skaï was fast alseep while Monfils watched the match.
"It's amazing. It's a really special moment to share together with Gael," she said. "It's really special to have these moments together as a family, and I really enjoy that."
But while she might not have been awake to watch her mom's near-triumphant return, Svitolina says that baby Skaï is taking after her in many ways.
"She's more looking like me, and she's really, really quiet—not the same as Gael," she laughed. "The only thing she has is small ears like Gael, but the rest is like me."
Svitolina says she'll next drop down to the ITF World Tennis Tour—the level of tournaments immediately below WTA level—in an attempt to get consistent match play. With the year's second Grand Slam event just over a month away at Roland Garros, she says she's looking forward to what's coming next, and is taking her return step-by-step.
"I will sit down with my team and go through the calendar of where I can use my protected ranking, maybe some wildcards to some tournaments as well," she said. "Now, for me, it's some ITF tournaments in Europe to get some matches under my belt, and I'm just looking forward to some new challenges."
