ROLAND GARROS

June 3, 2025

Elina Svitolina

Press Conference

I. SWAITEK/E. Svitolina

6-1, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Obviously not the result you wanted today, but reaching quarterfinals is a big achievement, especially in a Grand Slam. How do you rate your whole week here?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, definitely good tournament for me almost, yeah, coming from not feeling very well before the tournament. I got sick little bit, so coming into the tournament with low expectations, playing a quarterfinal, having great matches here, big battles, for sure lots of positive things to take from the tournament.

Yeah, just feeling good overall.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. We could see that there was a lot of wind on center court. How much did it bother you today?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, of course, it was difficult, but it was for both players, you know. I feel like on one side it was more difficult to play than another, and then we were just, you know, dealing with that.

Iga played well in the first set to close it 6-1, and yeah, she dealt with that better in the first set than me. Then I tried to bring my full focus on how to really play against the wind, with the wind. Of course, you know, playing Iga here is not easy in general already.

So, yeah, it was a lot today.

Q. What do you take from this match? Because, yes, Iga is very hard to play against, but you lived with her for the second set, and she's probably the best clay court player there is. Personally, what do you take as a positive from a match like this in which you were very close for more than a set?

ELINA SVITOLINA: For sure a lot of positives from me. Not only from this match, but I feel like in general the tournament for me was very good. The clay court season was very good. I played really well with different kind of players and won a lot of matches.

Of course, today Iga, already doesn't matter on which surface, but she presents a big challenge, so you have to play your best game against her. And especially here, I feel on this court she won many matches, she won many trophies here. So, of course, she's feeling full of confidence.

Yeah, you need to play from the first point until the last point your best tennis to beat her. Yeah, as I said, I'm happy the way that I can challenge the top players, and that's what I'm training for, to try to, you know, find a way to beat them, to try to find the way to be back in top 10. This is my goal, and I try to work really hard for that.

Q. After this match what can you say about Iga's game? Because she was struggling during previous tournaments, and now she regained confidence probably. How you look at her game now after this match?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I think she's playing good matches. For the past matches that we played against each other, she played really well. Even the match before that we played in Miami, I think she was playing very well. It was two tough sets in Miami.

Today I was not playing as well in the first, but then in the second it was a good level. I feel like she's striking the ball well. I mean, it's difficult for me to say because I don't watch her every match that she plays, but against me, she plays really well.

Q. You mentioned that you've had a great clay court season, and you've won a ton of matches, been really consistent. I'm curious how much closer do you feel to your goal of being in the top 10 and also just competing for the biggest titles in general, which I'm sure is what you want to do?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I feel pretty close. Well, in numbers, as well. I mean, I'm not that far. Game-wise, as well. I feel like I was able to play well and consistent.

To be in top 10, you have to be consistent week in, week out. Of course, sometimes there are tough moments, tough matches that you face, but that's how quick you can come back and regain your good form.

So I feel I'm winning a lot of matches. I feel I play well against top players. I'm not that far, but I still need to work on few things to hold this level. Yeah, just try to find this extra something, you know, to try to get over the quarterfinal, to be in semifinal, and to be in the finals. Of course, you have to perfect your game.

Q. In semifinal we will have Iga Swiatek against Aryna Sabalenka. What do you think? Who will be better?

ELINA SVITOLINA: It's difficult to say. They are both top players. They have both been playing really well at this tournament, and they played many matches before in the past. I think it was, like, some of them went Swiatek way; some of them went Sabalenka way.

Yeah, is difficult to say. I feel like it's 50-50, but you know, Iga, she won here multiple times. I feel like she's back in good form.

So, yeah, I feel like she's the one who has the advantage, you know, on this court because of so many matches she won on that court. She has great confidence there.

Q. You just touched on top-10 aspects. Is that the end goal for you? Is that the one thing that you really want to achieve? Because you are very, very close at 13 now. Or is there more than getting back into the top 10?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Of course this is not my end goal. The ultimate goal is to win a Grand Slam, to be at the top of WTA ranking, but you know, I try to take it step by step, try to take my time. It's important for me to just sometimes sit and realize how much I've done, how much work I've done.

You know, coming back from pregnancy, it's not an easy task already, so sometimes I just want to sit, to relax, to tap myself on the shoulder and say, Okay, you are in a good spot, you are doing well. There is not so many people who have done that before, and you are on a good path. So just continue working and continue doing your thing, and good things are coming your way.

I feel that I have a good chance to play good tennis, to challenge the top players for the titles and some tough matches. I have this belief, and I want to continue working. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here playing and competing. I would be just sitting home and enjoying my retirement.

Q. I want to follow the subject of returning to tennis. It seemed like you changed your approach on the court. You know, you're much more attacking, and you're very brave with your shots. I wonder what changed for you and how women's tennis has changed? And did it force you to be more attacking than it used to be? Because it seems like you play now the tennis of your life, but still the ranking is not, like, where it was. Maybe talk about the field and why or if you change your approach.

ELINA SVITOLINA: I feel definitely tennis improved a lot power-wise. And also, not only power-wise but also people now are taking more risk. As before it was more like a chess game, you know, all about trying to build the point. Now the points are shorter and quicker. Serves are bigger. You have to really find quick to find the opening in the rally, in the game.

I feel, yeah, you need to take more risk. So, yeah, therefore after I came back after pregnancy, for me was important to find this extra power in me and, yeah, try to build my game around that.

I feel my serve is improved a lot. Also, the speed. And, yeah, I try to focus on these little things that can help me to be back in top 10.

Q. You just talked about your coming back. I was wondering, would you like to play older than Gael? He is already 38. Will you try to beat him and outlast him on that regard? Back to the match you played today, was there a time in the second set where you believed you could pull off the same comeback that you did against Jasmine?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, regarding the first question, no, I wouldn't want to play that long, because obviously I want to have more kids. I want to, yeah, just have a happy retirement and not play, you know, that much, because for me I've been on the tour for so many years (laughing).

It sometimes can be difficult. It can be lonely and, you know, sometimes can have tough moments, and I have so much things outside of tennis. For me I would be fine to stop earlier than Gael's age now.

And regarding the second question, I mean, I didn't really think about the comeback. I tried to focus on my game point by point. Of course, I had to believe that I could take the second set because it was close, you know, 5-All.

Yeah, I mean, it's a tricky one when you are playing Iga. Of course, she's not giving you free points. You need to really work hard to get them.