Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina enters the French Open as a potential championship candidate following her recent Italian Open victory, but the athlete is maintaining a measured perspective about her title prospects, emphasizing that a relaxed mental approach and concentration on her play matter more than dwelling on capturing her first Grand Slam championship.
The 31-year-old athlete defeated reigning Roland Garros titleholder Coco Gauff in last week’s Italian Open championship match after securing hard-fought victories against world number two Elena Rybakina and third-ranked Iga Swiatek.
Although she claimed her most significant tournament victory since taking maternity leave following her daughter’s birth with fellow tennis professional Gael Monfils in 2022, Svitolina, currently ranked seventh globally, emphasized she won’t burden herself with expectations entering the Grand Slam tournament beginning Sunday.
“It’s all about trying to focus on my game, my performance, not going too far with the thoughts about if I can win the title or not,” Svitolina, who faces Hungarian opponent Anna Bondar in her opening match, explained to media members Saturday.
“There’s still lots of matches to win to get that title, and you need to be fit and mentally ready.
“There’s still a lot of work ahead. It’s just important to focus on the first round, one match at a time, and be ready for anything that comes my way.”
The Ukrainian player, who has advanced beyond the quarterfinal stage at every Grand Slam tournament except Roland Garros, expressed contentment with her career trajectory.
“It’s okay if I don’t win a slam,” she stated.
“It’s also fine, in a way, because if you’re not okay with that I think you can just eat yourself from inside and all the time not be happy about what you do on the court.
“I think my career, even if I finish tomorrow, is okay. And if something happens, I’ll be fine with that and I’ll still be a happy person and live my life good.
“So I just want to have this mentality now, because I think when you’re younger, of course you want to win a slam, this is the goal, number one, and you’re so upset and you can really damage yourself mentally if you don’t succeed.
“I still believe I can win a Grand Slam but I’m also fine if it’s not going to happen or if it’s not on the cards for me.”
