INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 15, 2026

Elina Svitolina

Mixed Zone

E. SVITOLINA/I. Swiatek

6-4, 2-6, 6-2

Q. (Question about eight years ago.)

ELINA SVITOLINA: It feels a bit less than that, less than eight years.

Definitely very pleased with the performance. Back-to-back great wins. In general, just great performance. Very happy to be in the finals here again, to get a chance to play, yeah, the finals, and hopefully to get a trophy.

Q. You beat two great players. What does it say about your actual shape? One of the best of the last five, six, seven years for you?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I don't think too much about this. I'm just trying to pick up a good form, trying to work on few things, trying to face the difficult situations in a decent way.

I think it's been going well for me. For me it's important to improve myself, improve my game, my mentality, to be at the top, and to play these kind of players and beat them. That's always been a goal for me.

I'm happy that it's working now. I try to really build on that.

Q. You need to be more aggressive against these type of players?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, definitely. I mean, you doesn't get many chances when you play against the top players. You don't get cheap points. You need to work for it. You need to put everything into the shots, every single shot.

Of course, like some players with high intensity, like Iga for example, you need to work hard every point to get opportunity to after dominate in the rally. Yeah, it's not an easy task, but I'm happy that I could execute it well today.

Q. Another final in two days. Can you say what about this match against Coco Gauff? You played her a lot. What will you expect in this final?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, we played many times. I know what to expect from her game. I think she knows my game, as well. It's going to be a big battle.

I mean, for me, it's always about now recovery. I had good win, so for me it's important just to stay on track, stay on the same way, work on few tactical things against her. I think it will be important for me to have a clear vision on that, try to execute the best way I can.

Q. What would it mean to you to win the trophy in two days?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, will mean the world for me. But I try not to put any kind of pressure on me. I have nothing really to lose.

Especially like for coming back after giving birth, having all this journey, I would never dream to play in such a high level, beat and challenge top players, have a chance to play in semis and finals. Yeah, just couldn't dream about a better year.