INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 10, 2026

Elina Svitolina

Mixed Zone

E. SVITOLINA/H. Baptiste

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. There were some tight early games, then you ran away with it. Was that how it felt?

ELINA SVITOLINA: To be fair, I just tried to be locked in in this match. I knew that Hailey, she's a good player. Very tricky. You have to be really focused from the start until the end.

I also wanted to get my revenge from Miami. She played a great match there. Yeah, just wanted to play better, in a better way.

Yeah, very happy that I could really raise my level in the second set and play very good tennis.

Q. Some players say they're not thinking about revenge after they lost to a player. Obviously you're a competitor. Is that something that is in your mind going into matches?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, I was so disappointed in my performance in Miami. I think I didn't play the right way. Maybe tactically also. In that time I think she played a very solid match. In a way didn't give me the opportunity to get in the match.

Today I tried to really from the beginning play the right way and tried to find the keys to her game, and also to be solid because we are on a clay court now. Longer rallies. You have a bit more time. You need to build the rallies smarter.

Yeah, sometimes beginning can be tough. Then you get more easy points later on.

Q. After two quite dominant results, how pleased are you with the way you bounced back from Madrid?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Very happy definitely. I tried not to think too much about Madrid. Anyway, Madrid is kind of a special tournament. I never really played well there, except just the last year semis. In a way I'm used to it.

For me, was important to prioritize my fitness, my kind of strength, because in such a busy schedule, don't have so much time to train physically. I really had a good eight days of training. Completely switched off from tennis, from all the buzz around Madrid.

I think I feel more refreshed. Yeah, feeling good on the court so far.

Q. What happened in Madrid, how impressed have you been with Marta?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Amazing. She always been a very strong player. Now she's more consistent. She plays really high level. Yeah, it's amazing.

Not only that, but also having seven Ukrainians in top hundred is really impressive I think. Now taking in consideration the war and everything, what's happening in our country, I think it's great inspiration for younger generation to try to do better, try to compete. It shows that it is possible.

I think especially for girls back in Ukraine, it's a great example.

Q. Are you close? Do you keep each other going?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, we are. I mean, we play Billie Jean King Cup. We have such a great spirit, a great team. I think we are very friendly.

In a way, for example, have different stories with everybody. For example, with Kichenok sisters, I've been growing up with them. Marta is a big younger. Marta, Dayana, they came a bit later.

I still feel like I'm more experienced player in the team because we have, I don't know what is the gap, maybe 10 years' or nine years' difference with other girls. I've been on tour a bit more.

Yeah, sometimes I just try to not be the competitor with them because they are just the beginning of their career. Me, I'm almost going towards the end of my career.

Q. The IOC suggested restrictions be taken away from Belarusian athletes. Your thoughts on that?

ELINA SVITOLINA: It's very hard question because, I mean, the war is still ongoing. Still rockets are going to Ukraine. Yeah, I mean, those two countries still considered aggressors. For us it's very sad and very painful to see this even considered, they're talking about it.

Yeah, it's very, very heavy topic. I have a lot to say. I think now is not the best time. But I'm definitely not supporting the talks.

Q. One of the new Ukrainian players in the top 100 has been Oliynykova. She's been critical of Russian and Belarusian players, even players who played in Russia and went to exhibitions. She feels she's been censored by the WTA.

ELINA SVITOLINA: I've seen the comments about that. Actually wanted to get more information from her. I had no chance to speak to her, yeah, to understand what she meant behind that.

I mean, I saw the post. I don't know more about this. Yeah, I need more kind of information on this.

Q. I was speaking to a player who said they heard from another player that someone was using AI to scout opponent's strengths and weaknesses. Does that sound a bit crazy to you?

ELINA SVITOLINA: No, because I think a lot of players are using the statistics. Statistics are coming from also AI, all the kind of devices that we can have now.

I think it's normal kind of because, yeah, many people are using statistics. We are trying to get as much information as possible before the match. I think it's kind of coach's job to do this.

Why not to try it? I mean, it's very close to the same, it would be just a statistics.

Q. Do you use AI in general in regular life much?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, I use it.

Q. For what kind of things?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Like what color are suiting at the moment. This was the latest one (laughter).

Q. What did it say?

ELINA SVITOLINA: It was pastel colors like cold summer (laughter). Brighten my skin with the colors.

Q. There's been a trend of betters coming to tennis matches. Have you witnessed any of that?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I mean, it's not a new thing. I think it's normal kind of thing that happens in tennis. We all know that betting is big in tennis. Lots of fans are watching matches because they have some bets.

But yeah, I wish it wouldn't depend on that. It's not nice to, like, know that it is possible. You would think it's better that you just support this player because you like the game style, you like this person, this player.

But yeah, it's just sad. I don't like this topic. I don't like that people can also come and support other players just because they put the bet.

I think it's always going to be against the top player who is higher ranked. Yeah, I don't think it's very fair.

Q. (Question regarding betters heckling players.)

ELINA SVITOLINA: No, I never heard this. I mean, I think sometimes the crowd is clapping between first and second. Yeah, sometimes saying, for example, I think I had it in Stuttgart, they were screaming when I was break point down: It's a break point, break point time, it's a break time, break time, break time. This I think is disrespectful in a way.

I don't like. I wish this was never a part of the sport.