Elina Svitolina: Balancing Tennis Stardom and Motherhood in a New Era of Her Career
Elina Svitolina may be in great form, but questions about how long her prime can last are beginning to surface. Recently, she shared how locked-in she feels mentally and physically, expressing her desire to regain her edge and challenge top players again. So far this season, she’s backed up those words with strong results, making deep runs at major tournaments like the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, and most recently, the French Open.
Despite a promising start at Roland Garros, her campaign ended in a tough straight-sets loss to defending champion Iga Swiatek. However, Svitolina isn’t letting that defeat define her. In her post-match press conference, she addressed the possibility of extending her career beyond her husband, ATP star Gael Monfils, who is now 38. Laughing, she dismissed the idea, saying she wants to enjoy retirement and have more children rather than remain on the tour for too long. For her, the tennis circuit has had its lonely and difficult moments, and she has plenty of interests beyond the sport.
Elina Svitolina says she doesn’t want to play tennis as long as Gael Monfils
“I was wondering, would you like to play older than Gael? He’s already 38. Will you try to beat him and outlast him in that regard?”
Elina: “No [laughing]… I wouldn’t want to play that long 😂.… pic.twitter.com/Yb4qbUqlKm
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 3, 2025
Currently 30 years old and a mother to daughter Skai, born in October 2022, Svitolina has already achieved a lot since returning to tennis. She won a title this year in Rouen, marking her second tournament win as a mother—the first coming at Strasbourg in 2023. At this year’s French Open, she advanced to the quarterfinals for the fifth time in 12 appearances. One of her most impressive moments came in the fourth round, where she overcame Jasmine Paolini in a thrilling match. After trailing by a set and a break and facing three match points, she turned the match around to win 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-1 in over two hours.
Svitolina’s return to the court after giving birth was methodical and inspiring. She first played with a wild card in Charleston and even organized a fundraiser for Ukraine. Facing tough competition, she struggled at first but decided to take a step back and rebuild her form gradually. She entered lower-level ITF events in Chiasso and Oeiras, choosing to focus on smaller tournaments in Switzerland, where she lives with Monfils. Those matches helped her regain her confidence and fitness, eventually leading her back into competitive WTA events.
What sets her comeback apart is the clarity and purpose behind it. In early 2025, just before launching her Sunshine Double campaign, she explained that motherhood gave her new motivation—playing not just for herself, but for her daughter. She hopes to show her child that women can pursue their dreams and succeed, even with the challenges of parenting.
Reflecting on her journey, Svitolina has said that her perspective on tennis has changed. While she remains fiercely competitive on the court, she sees her family as her greatest triumph. Her social media posts often highlight the love and unity within her family, and in past interviews, she has spoken fondly about the experience of becoming a mother.
As she now heads into the grass court season, the question remains: will she continue this momentum and possibly secure another title? Her fans remain hopeful, watching closely as she navigates the next chapter of her career—one defined by resilience, love, and balance.