"Svitolina criticizes the WTA for the lack of support to Ukraine: 'It's nothing new, it has been like this for four years'"

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A new day in the office for Elina Svitolina, already in the third round of Roland Garros 2026. The Ukrainian defeated Kaitlin Quevedo this Wednesday and is now among the last 32 in the draw, although it is expected that she will continue to advance even further.

It's easy to think of a Sabalenka, Swiatek, or Gauff for the title here at Roland Garros 2026, but be very careful with Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian comes from winning Rome, is having a spectacular season, within the top 10, with all the pieces in place and a Grand Slam title on her mind. Already in the third round of the women's draw, the Odesa native spoke to the press about her mood, the good and the bad, including a criticism of the tour for not supporting as it should all the players from her country who have suffered due to an ongoing war.

Evaluation of the victory against Quevedo

"I think the match was good on my side, although Kaitlin reacted, and in the second set, she played much better than in the first. It was a good performance on my part, and I'm very happy with how I handled that second set because she really pushed me a lot there."

Svitolina explains her great performance in 2026

"I just try to improve in every training session, in every match, and in every tournament I play. I think I find motivation in different things and different people, also in the people from Ukraine. And the war in Ukraine really gave me a different perspective on life, just like my family and my daughter. Now I use my time more wisely. When I step onto the court, I give 100%. If I'm not mentally or physically prepared to be there at 100%, then I don't do it. When I come back home, I spend quality time there, I'm there for my daughter, and then I give 100% in everything I do, without wasting too much time on external things or things that distract me or don't make me happy."

The impact of her work with Sluiter

"I started working with Raemon Sluiter at the beginning of my comeback, and he had a great impact on my game. I am truly grateful for all the work he did with me and for accompanying me on this challenging path of returning to competition. Not everyone is willing to embark on such an adventure when you don't know how everything will turn out, and you practically start from scratch, even though I had a great career before motherhood. But still, you don't know how your body will react or how fit you can be consistently because tennis demands a lot of consistency. We worked really hard for three or four months before returning to playing tournaments. Of course, the first four or five tournaments were very tough; I couldn't find my game, I lost two consecutive tournaments despite having match points. It wasn't easy, but I'm very happy; he is a great person and also was a great player in the past. I think he has done great work with many players."

Svitolina criticizes the WTA for lack of support for Ukraine

"It's not new; it has been this way for four years, so I try not to dwell on it too much. It's very sad for us because we continue to experience situations like Marta's. It's very tough to wake up and hear news that your family was in enormous danger overnight and to feel helpless. We have been living this for years, and for me, to talk about it again... I feel like we have already analyzed it many times in the past. We already know the reactions, or rather, the total absence of reaction. For me, what's important is how I can be useful for my country, how I can help motivate the next generation, introduce them to sports, and assist them in that, because that's the only way I see things moving forward. You can't control everything or everyone. So personally, I want to focus on what I can control: how I can be useful for my country."

Extreme heat conditions in Paris

"In tennis, you're used to adapting; every day is a different story, even playing the same tournament, you can play in the morning or at night, and the conditions will be completely different. You can't control the weather, so as soon as I wake up, I always check the forecast. I even look ahead for several days to know how to adjust the string tension or my preparation. If it's hot, I start hydrating from the day before and eat properly for that particular day. For me, all those little things are what can affect you and what you can control. The weather is always challenging for us; when it's so hot, you feel like you're trying to survive, not just play against your opponent but also against the conditions. That's tennis, unfortunately, although I think that's also part of its charm."

The key to performing better since the comeback

"It has been important to listen to my body and really learn how it reacts to heavy loads. After pregnancy, my body is very different from what it was before. Maybe when I was 25, I could play week after week more easily and consistently. Now it takes much more energy, and I also have to consider that my body went through a pregnancy and that sometimes I need to stop and give myself not just a day off but maybe two or three to really recover the energy and have a fresh perspective to train or compete. I also need more time to adapt to the conditions or just to rest. Sometimes the muscles don't react as you would like, and you need to listen to yourself, rest, and relax to be able to win in the long run. I think it's more about seeing the big picture and giving 100% at the right moment."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Svitolina critica a la WTA por la falta de apoyo a Ucrania: “No es ninguna novedad, ha sido así durante cuatro años”