Svitolina: "When you take your limits to the maximum and go through difficult moments, you grow and learn"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 31 May 2026 | 18.10

Svitolina: "When you push your limits to the maximum and go through tough times, you grow and learn." Photo: Getty Images

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Elina Svitolina knows she has a golden opportunity to win her first Grand Slam. The Ukrainian has been one of the standout players of the year with remarkable consistency. Semifinals at the Australian Open, Miami, and Stuttgart, a final in Dubai, a title in Rome, and now quarterfinals at Roland Garros, where she will face her compatriot Marta Kostyuk.

In fact, this match against her compatriot will be very emotional for both of them due to the situation in Ukraine in recent years. She emphasized this in the press conference following her victory over Belinda Bencic, where she had to come back from a set down(4-6, 6-4, 6-0). She also discussed this upcoming match and her evolving mindset over the years.

A victory where she went from strength to strength

"I think Belinda played really well in the first set. I had some opportunities to break her serve at the start and didn't capitalize on them. Then she raised her level significantly. I had to fight hard to rediscover my game and the way I wanted to play. I feel it was a great match. I am very happy to have been able to play a very solid tennis today to beat her."

Elina Svitolina's thoughts on her upcoming match at Roland Garros against her compatriot Marta Kostyuk

"It's exciting. She's playing really well. I think it will be something very special for Ukraine as well, having a Ukrainian in the semifinals. Honestly, it seems very special to me. I don't think it has ever happened before, so it's incredible."

Revealing the keys to her consistency shown this year

"Obviously, there is a lot of work behind it: mental, physical, and tennis-wise. I feel that right now I am in a very good place mentally and physically. Regardless of what happens in the quarterfinals, I am very proud of the effort I have put in since the beginning of the season."

"I have reached a very good level, and moreover, I have managed to maintain it, which is very important in tennis. You have to be at your best to challenge the top players and have a chance to win major titles."

Happy that there is a night session with a women's match

"I think it's great, both the match and the showdown. It's very good for the tournament and for people to enjoy women's tennis. Yes, I think it's an important step for women's tennis. I believe it's a positive move."

Elina Svitolina is waiting for Gael to comeback for her next match 😆#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/xCDK3kUkBj
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2026

Changing perspectives on expectations, victories, and defeats with age

"It's a very difficult transition. It was for me. I come from Ukraine and grew up in a family that demanded a lot from me and pushed me constantly. I think it's a typical mentality in Eastern Europe: to go through hell to win matches. Everyone is raised differently, but in my case, that was it. There are good and bad aspects to that. The good thing is that when you are young, you want to do many things, hang out with friends, enjoy life."

"But my mother always put me back on the right path, making me train a lot and stay focused on my goals. Then, as you become an adult woman, you need to let go of that dependency on those who pushed you so hard and find your own balance. It took me years to find my way and conquer those inner demons. And I still struggle with them in every match I play. When you push yourself to the limit and go through tough times, you grow and learn. The important thing is not to break mentally. That has always been my goal: to stay strong. You can have bad days, but life is still good."

The importance of communicating with her team during matches

"For me, it's a reset. A restart of the game plan and some things that I may need to adjust. I think it's very positive to sometimes have the opportunity to talk to your coach because matches are very long and sometimes you get stuck in something that you may not be seeing."

"A quick conversation can get you back on the right track, and that's exactly what happens in my case. Also, in Chatrier, the box is practically on the moon (laughs). I don't understand why it's so far away. But sometimes you need a little push or some support, and that always helps," concludes Elina Svitolina as she seeks her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros 2026.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Svitolina: "Cuando llevas tus límites al máximo y atraviesas momentos difíciles, creces y aprendes"

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