Two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Elina Svitolina marked her return to the tennis tour after more than a year away with a clash at the Charleston Open. The Ukrainian sensation, who was once ranked as World Number 3 and currently stands at World Number 1,081, put up a good fight but ultimately lost 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4 to Yulia Putintseva in an intense three-setter match which lasted for a total of 2 hours and 46 minutes.
Despite not having played in a year, Svitolina showed admirable strength, resilience and determination throughout the match and the crowd was ready to support her. The support for the Ukrainian star was further felt when she stepped onto the court with her usual visor and free-flowing forehands. Paula Badosa, who is seeded 12th in Charleston, expressed her joy at Svitolina’s return to the game and praised her as an inspiration.
The veteran also welcomed a new addition in her life during her absence: her daughter Skaï, who Svitolina and her husband Gael Monfils welcomed back in October. During the time, Svitolina and Monfils both incorporated an essential part of their routine which involved training hard together. Monfils has since been competing in tournaments across California, Florida and other places while Svitolina returned to the court. She also paid a visit to her native Ukraine in February for a week-long trip and organized a tennis clinic for 300 kids affected by the war there.
Svitolina has many achievements to her name, which include a bronze medal for Ukraine at the Tokyo Olympics and winning the season-ending WTA Finals in 2018. She has also reached the semifinals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in the year 2019. Despite her loss in the initial match, Svitolina has certainly not given up her hope for a Grand Slam title one day.
The Charleston Open continues to produce gripping sequences and it already saw two-time U.S Open champion Sloane Stephens easily handle qualifier Louisa Chirico in a three-setter. Also, 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova beat Jil Teichmann 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 and Anna Kalinskaya defeated Anhelina Kalinina 7-6 (6), 6-4. Jessica Pegula, the tournament’s top-seed, will be in action soon against Anna Blinkova who defeated Anna Bondar 7-6 (7), 6-2 in a match earlier.
The company mentioned in the article is All England Club, which recently announced that players from Russia and Belarus — which had aided in the invasion of Ukraine — will be allowed to participate in the Wimbledon tournament in June 2022 after being banned from the tournament in the previous year.
The person mentioned in the article is Paula Badosa, a 12th seed player in the Charleston Open. She expressed her admiration and appreciation for Svitolina’s return to tennis upon her comeback as a mother. Badosa was impressed by Svitolina’s warrior-like competitiveness and praised her as an inspiration.