Elina Svitolina: From the tennis stage to motherly love – an inspiring balance!

Elina Svitolina: From the tennis stage to motherly love – an inspiring balance!

Elina Svitolina, the talented tennis player, has not only celebrated sporting success in her career, but has also taken on a completely new role as a mother. In 2023, she became a mother to her daughter Skai Monfils, marking a significant turn in her life. She returned to the tennis court just seven months after giving birth and surprised many with her comeback, which she crowned with a victory over the top seed at Wimbledon. Adapting to her new life as a mother and professional athlete demands a lot from her, as Svitolina herself explains in an interview.

Svitolina recently spoke on the Tennis Channel about the challenges that come with balancing motherhood and a career. She praises the work of all mothers and describes their commitment as “inspiring”. In her heartfelt Mother's Day messages, she expresses her gratitude for motherhood and is humbled by the strength that mothers muster. Her husband Gael Monfils also took to social media to announce the birth of their daughter, and together they are adjusting their professional schedules to accommodate their family's needs.

The challenges of the comeback

Svitolina has already achieved significant success in her return to tennis. At the Italian Open, where she defeated Danielle Collins, she reached the quarterfinals. She also made it to the fourth round of the French Open last season, where she defeated, among others, Anna Blinkova 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. The last time she reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal was at the 2021 US Open, underlining how challenging the comeback has been for the 28-year-old.

Reflecting on playing tennis as a mother, Svitolina emphasizes that returning to the sport was “difficult” and that she needed the support of a team to be able to take good care of her daughter Skai. This also includes supporting a full-time nanny and their mothers. The need for such adjustments is particularly important for Svitolina as this is her first child and she now has to learn how to successfully combine career and family.

Inspiring role models

Svitolina draws inspiration from other women returning to their sports after motherhood. Her own journey into the professional world of tennis has taught her how challenging but also fulfilling it is to juggle multiple roles. The respect she feels for working mothers is reflected in her statements in which she praises their commitment and finds it motivating.

In her current preparation for the semi-final against Peyton Stearns at the Italian Open, Svitolina is preparing to give her best once again. She also plans to play Daria Kasatkina in the next round of the French Open, which represents another challenge. She describes her impressive ability to operate in both worlds as part of her personal and public journey as an athlete and mother.