The most complicated year for Svitolina: "There is no completely happy life for me"
The Ukrainian returns seven years later to the WTA Finals, a tournament she already won in 2018. Now, more mature and experienced, she faces this final challenge of the season with a personal burden that is impossible to set aside.
Some may not remember, but Elina Svitolina was the champion of the WTA Finals in the 2018 season, when she competed in the event without any favoritism. This scenario could repeat itself in 2026, where the Ukrainian arrives in Indian Wells after a journey filled with obstacles and personal issues.
We already know the personal details, but we do not want to focus on that. Considering the situation in her country and her marital crisis, it’s even more impressive that Svitolina has pushed forward to achieve a season as good as this one, returning to the top 10 and earning her ticket to Indian Wells. She was the reason there was no official photo among the masters; what she couldn't escape was the Media Day with fellow journalists. These were her words before her debut.
Seven years later, Svitolina is back among the best
"I am very proud of the effort I have made to return here after so many years and to be once again among the eight best players. It is a fantastic feeling, and I am really happy to be here and to have the opportunity to play well."
The pause that changed her season
"I give a lot of credit to that decision because last year I was really exhausted from everything that was happening. I am a person who needs to take breaks and have moments to reset; it was important for me to do that. Looking back, I am very grateful that my team agreed with me. We sat down, talked about taking some time off, training, and preparing for this season by giving it everything. The season is very long, and you need to be fresh and ready for the tough moments."
A faster and more aggressive tennis
"My game has changed a lot; now the circuit is very different from the point of view of playing style. Everything is much faster and more aggressive. If you don’t seize your opportunities quickly, opponents will snatch them away from you. That has also forced me to change and evolve my tennis a bit. I am still in that process, but I am very happy with how my season has gone and with finally having the opportunity to return to the WTA Finals."
Svitolina and the search for happiness
"I have had a complicated year, with many things on my mind. Living in the public eye is not easy either; everything is there for people to judge or comment on. I try to focus on the things I can control and find my happy moments day by day. There probably isn’t a completely happy life for me because of the things I have to face daily, but I can create happy moments with the people around me. That is something I can control."
💬 Elina Svitolina has explained in an exclusive interview with BTU why former Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky is helping her prepare for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells instead of her regular coach, Andrew Bettles. Stakhovsky was seen leading Svitolina's practice session and even hitting with her on court. According to Svitolina, Bettles is absent because his wife is expecting a baby this week. 🗣️ Elina Svitolina: "Andy Bettles' wife is pregnant. Back at Roland Garros, he told me there was a chance she would give birth towards the end of the season, so there was a possibility he wouldn't be able to be here with me. And that's exactly what happened, as she's due to give birth this week. So, back in the summer, I started thinking about who could step in. Sergiy immediately came to mind because I've known him for a very long time. We train together a lot whenever I'm in Ukraine, and he's already been helping me anyway. For me, it was a very easy decision. It was also great that we had the opportunity to work together at the Billie Jean King Cup. He got to see how different players compete and became more involved in tennis again. So it was an easy choice for me, and I'm happy he agreed to help me this week." Sergiy Stakhovsky retired from professional tennis in early 2022 and joined Ukraine's Defence Forces following Russia's full-scale invasion. He was demobilized from military service in September 2026. #UkrainianTennis | #WTAFinals
— Ukrainian Tennis • BTU (@ukrtennis_eng) November 5, 2026
Stakhovsky, a new member of her team
"He has taught me a lot about volleying and has improved that aspect, which had never been one of my strengths. Now I can at least say that I can hit some volleys from time to time. I am very happy to work with Sergiy; he is a very close person, we have known each other for a long time, and that makes everything easier. I am happy to have him here helping me."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El año más complicado de Svitolina: "No existe una vida completamente feliz para mí"