US OPEN

August 25, 2026

Elina Svitolina

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

SVITOLINA-MONFILS/Siniakova-Patten

5-4, 4-5, 10-8

THE MODERATOR: Gael, Elina, thank you for coming. A brief synopsis about how you feel about the day, thoughts on going into tomorrow.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, was great day today, unexpectedly I would say (smiling). But yeah, very happy with two wins. Was great one, also playing against great doubles players in the second match.

Yeah, just happy to get those wins and be in the semifinal.

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, has been great experience obviously playing with Elina. For me definitely the first time and the last time (smiling).

ELINA SVITOLINA: Last time (laughter)?

GAEL MONFILS: Which is true (smiling).

I had a ton of fun. I think we will have great images for our memory. I should say we came out there with low expectation, and I think we played two good games, so we're very happy with it.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. You say you didn't have high expectations; don't play a lot of doubles. How important was your chemistry out there in terms of what you were able to do as a team? Gael, could you talk about your crazy point from the corner. That was insane.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, answering the first question, we had zero expectations. I mean, we practice quite a lot together back at home or on the tournaments. Only yesterday we worked on few things for doubles.

Yeah, I think, as you mentioned, the chemistry what put us through because we understand each other even by the look at each other's reaction or kind of mood. We can find the right words for each other, which is great, and I think very helpful in mixed doubles because everything goes super quick. You have no time to be sad and upset.

Yeah, I think this really put us through these tough, tough matches, especially the second one where we play really experienced players. They kind of, yeah, just were unbelievable in reactions. Everything was great.

So we're happy to get through those.

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, exactly what she mention.

About my point, never give up. In a way was important point. I felt like he hit it a little bit too strong, that I could reach it in a way. I was trying to run and tell Elina I will have it (smiling).

I felt like I've done it in practice, I've done it in couple matches in my career. This one was the right one. I think I had a great anticipation move. Obviously very fortunate to win the point after.

Q. You had given up on that point, Elina?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, yeah, I was checked out completely (smiling). It was also behind me, I think, so I kind of turned. In the side of my eye I saw, like, he's running and keep running. I saw the ball actually landing in the court, so it is possible in his case.

Yeah, I was like wow, witnessing something unbelievable. I mean, we've seen quite few over the years this kind of pickup from him. Yeah, this one was also like one for the books.

Q. You said you just practiced a little bit. Was this something over the last couple weeks as it was approaching that you talked about very much over dinner or anything? How did you see playing together was going to work? Was it just something that you landed here in New York and play mixed doubles together, we have to practice a little?

ELINA SVITOLINA: To be fair, until the last moment we didn't know if we were going to get the wild card. If we get it, it's nice. If not, it's like this.

Then, yeah, I think just yesterday we work on few things because we arrive quite late from Cincinnati, still coming and thinking about our singles matches. Yeah, yesterday decided just to work on a few things, which was nice to do for today.

When we warmed up this morning, yeah, I told my coach it would be amazing if we can win just few games.

GAEL MONFILS: True story.

ELINA SVITOLINA: I was like, wow.

GAEL MONFILS: Almost one game (smiling).

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, I mean, when you see so many great players, doubles players who are playing unbelievable, you always have low expectations, of course. It's normal.

Q. You've both been coming here a long time and have gotten far in singles. What would it mean to actually get the trophy here if you can do it together?

GAEL MONFILS: I mean, would be amazing. But we are very far. Yeah, it would be something. Nice story, very nice story. But let's focus to the semifinal first.

Q. This is the second year of this format. Do you think the other majors should use this format?

GAEL MONFILS: What I think is good is I love this format, but what I like also is every slam choose something different. I'm not, like, someone say that we should copy. We go to the Australia, the one-point challenge was great idea. The players, they had fun.

Paris actually it was a little bit different. It was a little bit me with my farewell tour in a way. And here again this.

I feel like it's a great ideas, but I like creativity from slams. Keep it open for them.

Q. You just said you really love this format. What do you love about it? How does it maybe affect the way you're playing?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I think it's great because it puts you straight into the tournament. Doubles, mixed doubles, everything goes super quick. I think mentally it's nice because you already starting the tournament before the tournament starts.

I think for us, as singles players, it's great. Lots of pressure points also that we challenge kind of our mind, sharpens our focus. I think it's good. That's why there's many singles players wanting to play.

Also it's fun. I feel it's not too long because we're playing until 4, two sets. In a way, the match that we played just now, I think it took us a bit longer because, yeah, it was really tight three sets. Generally talking, it can be, yeah, 40 minutes, which is nice. Very intense, which is good. It trains your mind, your focus. You can see where you are with your level.

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, I mean, a little bit the same. The week before usually we use this week to make points. I mean, we're working a little bit less on details, but we are making sets.

Then to be able to play on Ashe, on Armstrong for actually big players, see the players. I think it's great to come out a little bit see how the court plays, have a first blow with the crowd. I think it's great. It's great opportunities.

Actually as she mention, you do it in a way that is very competitive. Even she say is fun because we won (smiling), but it's very competitive. I feel like all players, they really play full. It makes it I think very interesting for people.

Yeah, it's fun because it's quicker point, but it's very competitive.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you both.