Elina Svitolina Battles Persistent Pain Amidst Comeback
Elina Svitolina, the former world No. 3, has been battling persistent pain since her return from maternity leave last year. Despite a dominant start to her Internazionali BNL d’Italia campaign, Svitolina admits to struggling daily with pain levels ranging from 2 to 3 out of 10.
The pain initially stemmed from a foot injury sustained during her impressive run to the Roland Garros quarterfinals in 2022. After a brief hiatus to give birth to her daughter, Svitolina returned with a more aggressive approach, resulting in a title in Strasbourg and a Top 10 victory over Daria Kasatkina.
However, the foot pain persisted, leading to a shutdown of her season after the US Open. Despite healing over the off-season, Svitolina encountered further setbacks at the Australian Open, where her back went out ahead of a fourth-round match.
Svitolina’s injuries have limited her ability to play her higher-octane game, which had been a hallmark of her comeback. She has opted to continue playing despite advice from her performance team, citing the emotional weight she carries as a spokeswoman for Ukraine.
“For me when I step on the court, I just try to think about the fighting spirit that all of us Ukrainians have,” Svitolina said.
However, her results have been mixed since Melbourne, with a 4-5 record and only one instance of winning back-to-back matches. Svitolina’s husband, Gaël Monfils, provides support by taking care of their daughter while she competes.
Despite the challenges, Svitolina remains determined to improve her condition gradually. She is closely monitoring her body through scans and listening to its signals.
“For me, the worst is to play on an injury that can get worse and force me to be out for six months,” Svitolina said. “It’s important to evaluate every single day, and see how I can get many 1% better than the day before.”
