Svitolina and a Liberating Revelation: "After Being a Mother, I Am at Peace with My Career"

Carlos Navarro | 11 Feb 2026 | 17.06

Elina Svitolina and a tremendous confession at this moment in her career. Source: Getty

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For several seasons, especially those in which she coexisted at the top of the WTA circuit, Elina Svitolina was a woman with a mission. What was that quest? To win a Grand Slam, the thorn in the side of one of the most competitive mentalities on the circuit. Regular, consistent, and a purebred competitor, the Ukrainian saw opportunities slip away multiple times... until her life took a 180-degree turn.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine. Becoming a mother and stepping away from competition. It changed her perception of what truly matters: her return to tennis would not be conditioned by past expectations, a weight she shed the moment she set foot on the court again after giving birth to Skaï, the new driving force of her career. After reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open, riding a wave of 10 consecutive wins (including a title the week before), Svitolina, present in Doha after one of the best starts of her sporting career, is very clear about what has changed in her life.

"Before, this was a very sensitive issue. When you are young and have been in the top 3 for a couple of years, they place you as a favorite at every Grand Slam, but you never achieve it... it is very complicated. Getting so close, playing several semifinals, having opportunities, thinking you can make it, but not succeeding... it's tough", she bluntly points out in conversation with TENNIS. However, these thoughts are now part of the past: her new philosophy ends up being the main reason why she has returned to the top 10, why she continues to be a player in the elite's main group.

This is why Svitolina is back among the best: a shift in perspective after becoming a mother

"After giving birth and being a mother, gaining different perspectives, I embraced the idea that it's okay to live my life after tennis... even if I hadn't won a Grand Slam before. Still, I have had a very solid, very competitive career, and I gave everything I had within me. If it happens at the end of my career, perfect; otherwise, it remains a fantastic career. I accept it, and that's it: not everything revolves around tennis". Her view on the remainder of her sporting career is clearly influenced by experiencing her first pregnancy: the energy and strength of seeing herself at the top after such a process has broadened her mind and marked a liberation in her final stage as a tennis player.

"Being a mother gives you a different perspective on everything you can do. I had a baby growing inside me for nine months and didn't know if I would be able to return to the circuit. If I had felt I couldn't come back playing at a normal level, I wouldn't have tried pushing myself to these limits. I'm 'only' 31 years old; I still want to live a healthy lifestyle after my career." A vital transformation at all stages that has not extinguished the Ukrainian's internal fire, which, far from it, feels fully capable of breaking through her final barrier and conquering, now without any pressure, that Grand Slam.

"Of course, I have a chance, that's how I feel. I feel that any player in the draw has it, whether small or a big favorite. We have seen many surprises, players who play incredibly for two weeks and even surprise themselves. Now I feel like a more solid player, after so many matches over so many years. I think my game has improved, that I can beat the best. When I'm in form, mentally strong, I have opportunities. I believe in it. Whatever is meant to happen, will happen". The new Elina Svitolina is back in motion in Doha... aiming for major titles. Keep a close eye on her.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Svitolina y una revelación liberadora: "Después de ser madre, estoy en paz con mi carrera"