PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 17, 2026

Elina Svitolina

Press Conference

E. SVITOLINA/L. Noskova

7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Elina, congratulations. Into the semifinals. What's been working so well for you here this week in two straightforward matches the last couple of rounds?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, I think they were two different kind of style matches. Very happy today could stay strong and find ways to win those two tight sets.

Very happy the way I have been serving, the way I was just fighting and finding, you know, the small opportunities to win both sets.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Speaking about the serve, I'm not sure if you saw the stats at the end. It was like 11 aces and 0 double faults. Do you remember the last time you finished the match in this way with so many aces, no double faults, against a great opponent, a very aggressive one?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, I didn't see the stats yet. I talked with my coach briefly to analyze the things that I did well. I think serve really kept me today in the match, and I, you know, cannot complain about that.

Here the ball is flying quite quick through the air, and I'm really happy I could adjust, you know, few things, and yeah, serve really well. So far happy with that.

Q. Looking ahead to the semis, obviously the winner of this match that's on court you will face next. I know you have played Coco a few times this year, and Karolina I think most recently last year. Just your thoughts on playing either of them, given the surface now is clay?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, it's going to be another challenge. Of course, with both of them, played long matches, three-setters, and always tough battles.

So, yeah, try to recover. Now we are playing every day, which is good I think. Another semifinal for me, so I try to really draw positives from today, and yeah, just generally really happy with the way I could adjust to this surface. Yeah, trying to recover quickly and be ready for tomorrow's big match.

Q. Your best result was here, also semifinals, so far, '21. How much do you remember from that match? What do you think can help you win and come next round more?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I think that time I lost to the champion, actually, to Barty. I think I was serving for the match and then lost that (smiling).

Yeah, it was really heartbreaking, because this tournament, for me, is very special with the great field of players. So you want to play well. It's the first tournament on clay, as well, so you want to start the season well.

Yeah, very heartbreaking, but I try to not think too much about that. Tomorrow is another big match, another opportunity to give myself a chance to play in the final here.

Yeah, we will see how it goes (smiling).

Q. How do you like the atmosphere out there, the light show, music, and everything? Does it suit you, or how much is it different to a usual tournament?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I love it so much. I really like, you know, the atmospheres like this. I like, you know, when it's engaging with the fans. It's very special, I feel like.

Yeah, for me, it makes it more fun for entertainment, makes it more fun for players, as well, and you get, like, a good feeling. Yeah, I enjoy it.

Lots of people coming, lots of the Ukrainians, lots of Ukrainian flags as well here. So for me, personally, yeah, it's a great feeling.

Q. Do you have any boundaries to Germany? How do you like it, people and things? What do you know about Germany, culture-wise, sport-wise, whatever?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, I used to come when I was a bit younger. I used to come here to train -- not to train, to play club matches quite a lot for Ratingen. It was fun, I think, for couple of seasons.

I was in a team, and yeah, always have a great time here. Really beautiful country. So for me to come to play is always nice. The tournament's always well organized. If you take the Bad Homburg tournament, Berlin tournament, here, it's amazing. You know, cannot complain as a player.

Q. So the other day over in France, Marta is playing the 250 in Rouen, she was talking about after her comeback win versus Caty McNally that she drew to you as inspiration when it was a difficult moment to come back in the match. Not sure if you saw the clip. Can you elaborate on your relationship with Marta and what it means for her to draw inspiration from you?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, actually I made a joke, we exchanged a few messages on Instagram about that, because they also told her that I was No. 1 seed last year, I won the tournament, and now it's up for her. I told her, Just low expectations for you there (smiling).

No, she's a great player, and we practice quite a bit when we are playing for our country. She's really representing Ukraine in a decent way. Yeah, it's great to have a bunch of young players coming up. I feel like it keeps me on my toes, and I always, you know, try to share, you know, if they want, you know, to speak or have my kind of experience from the years, always happy to do that.

But it's great to have, I think, six or seven players now in top 100 for Ukraine. It's really great. I think it's inspiring a younger generation, and that's what we want to have more.

Q. Coming back for one second on your serve, because on the second set there was at one point probably the chance that you had to go up 5-2, and you served an ace. The umpire called the let. Then you served the next point, it was an ace in the exact same spot before. Did you try to go there for some sort of personal challenging, or, like, did you just feel that trajectory?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I was thinking to change direction or not to change. Then I was, like, maybe she will be thinking that I'll gonna go on the other side, so I just tried to commit with my decision.

My serve was really good. I just touched a little bit the net cord. So I felt it good in that time, and yeah, I repeat it. It just was a split-second decision of where to go.