LONDON | She gave birth nine months ago, she defends on all the platforms that are offered her country at war. And on Tuesday, on the central, the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina paid the world number 1, the Polish Iga Swiatek, to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
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Svitolina, guest of the organizers, defeated the world’s best racket 7-5, 6-7 (5) and 6-2. A victory that the former member of the top 3, who returned to the circuit in March, described as “incredible”, which “represents the world” for her, given the recent birth of Skaï, her granddaughter, but also the context in Ukraine.
“It means a lot [pour les gens en Ukraine]claimed the 76e world in front of journalists. I know a lot of people there are watching the game. I haven’t looked at my phone much yet, but I know I will have received a lot of messages.”
“I am happy to be able to bring a little happiness into their lives, she continued, her eyes a little moist. I also saw a lot of videos on the internet of kids watching the game on phones. It melts my heart to see that.”
Svitolina was on a mission
Swiatek, undisputed world number 1 for more than a year, did not control her forehand as usual in this match, on this surface that she likes less.
Elina Svitolina seems speechless after her victory at the expense of world number 1, Iga Swiatek.
Photo: AFP
But still: this victory is above all that of a combative Svitolina, who had also reached the four of aces at the All England Club in 2019, but who did not necessarily shine in the Grand Slam tournaments during his “first” career.
The 28-year-old Ukrainian, from Odessa, seemed on a mission the whole time, if not for that second set tiebreaker, which she fumbled after leading, or that double fault committed on his first match point.
A warm embrace
And unlike Sunday, against Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, this time there was a warm embrace at the net.
After the match, Elina Svitolina and Iga Swiatek (front) gave each other a long hug at the net.
Photo: AFP
It’s that Svitolina refuses to shake hands with his Russian or Belarusian adversaries until the war is over.by “respect for those who are at the front”.
But the Polish Swiatek is an ally. In particular, she wears a blue and yellow ribbon on her cap, in support of Ukraine. “We admire him a lot in Ukraine,” Svitolina said.
“It was much harder, this meeting, surely because she is a good person, a great champion, she raised. […] In a way, when you play against a good friend, it’s hard because you don’t want to see her lose. When I was away from tennis, I supported her a lot, I was really impressed with what she was doing.
An ice cream instead of mom
Already, in Paris, last month, Svitolina had amazed by reaching the quarter-finals so soon after his return. While she attributes her recent form to changes in her game, she also believes being a mom has changed her.
Moreover, after leaving the center to the applause of the British who have supported her since the start of the tournament, the Ukrainian made a video call to her little one. Skaï is not at Wimbledon: she is rather at home with her dad, the French tennis player Gaël Monfils.
“She was really busy with her ice cream, so I wasn’t the priority,” she laughed. She’s at that age where she doesn’t care if I win or lose.”
“There is worse in life”
In addition to motherhood, there is war, too, which gives her a new perspective.
“I think that [le conflit armé] made me strong mentally, she analyzed. Mentally, I no longer see difficult situations [sur le terrain] like disasters.
“There is worse in life. So I’m calmer.”
▶ In the semi-final on Thursday, Elina Svitolina will face the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 42e world and fall of the fourth seed, the American Jessica Pegula, Tuesday.