ROLAND GARROS

June 3, 2021

Elina Svitolina

Press Conference

E. SVITOLINA/A. Li

6-0, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You looked pretty dialed in from the start. How pleased are you with that performance?

ELINA SVITOLINA: It was actually a very good start for me, then a bit of tricky second set, but in the end I think it's really good that I came back in good form to win the second set and to finish the match. Two sets was definitely something that I was hoping for.

I found a way, and good level in the end.

Q. You've had a couple of matches and it's quite early to tell, but what are you most pleased with and what are you looking for more from yourself on the court?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I think it was two different matches, but in the end what I'm really happy that the way that I was down in both matches in the second set and found a way, found a good level and didn't give up and didn't give up on the second set.

That was a really good point for me, and was really playing composed in both matches. It was two different players, but I was really happy that I could win in two sets both matches.

Q. What's the best thing about being Elina Svitolina right now?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Probably winning matches (laughing), but it's not that I was losing before anyway. I didn't have like a seven-match losing streak.

I'm happy to be here in Roland Garros. All the time even, in the past, I had some really tough losses here. I also had some really amazing comebacks.

When I come here, I always have good memories. I try to put tough battles aside and only look for positives, at in the end I really enjoy the crowd. I really enjoy the courts here. I've been playing Chatrier, my first match, and the second one Lenglen, so it's amazing to have this amazing chance to play in the best courts here at Roland Garros and get the wins, as well.

Q. You had a really strong buildup for here, quarterfinals in Rome, semis in Stuttgart, also coupled with a tricky match in Madrid. How can you keep resetting week in and week out because you're so consistent? Is there a kind of art to it?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I think I'm extremely motivated when it comes to the clay courts. I really love to play in all the tournaments actually in Europe. I don't know, it's something to do with clay or something to do with playing in Europe. I don't know, but I really love the clay court swing.

I had great results, and yeah, it just really keeps me motivated to do well. I love the atmosphere, as well, because somehow I get a lot of support from the crowd. That definitely keeps me motivated.

Q. You've got a degree of nutrition. I just wondered if any players had asked you for advice or any players using these SvitFit bars. Did I say that right?

ELINA SVITOLINA: No, not really. No one really asked. I had some talks with different people asking, like mostly my friends, but I don't know, maybe they're just being nice.

The bars, they've been -- Sergiy Stakhovsky, he's a big fan of my bars, but for now we stopped the production and we are looking for a better and bigger factory to help us to, also to deliver easier in Europe, because for now it was mostly in Ukraine, but now we are trying to expand and trying to go bigger.

Q. You always seem to have a project. You always seem to be very busy. What's next in the pipeline?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, I'm very interested in psychology, and I'm doing some courses in psychology, as well. I think it's a big part of tennis, of any sport, and working myself with a mental coach, as well. I think it's very important, especially these days with everything what's happening with COVID, with all the restrictions that we get and anything that happens with athletes.

It's important to keep yourself really composed, really like sane with your mind, to be just ready for anything what comes your way and try to accept that and work with that.

Q. How far are you through that course? Are you doing it online, I guess?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, I do it online, and I also get different ones, because it's not only about sports, it's also just a general one because we are athletes but also there is life after tennis. You have to be ready to stop any time because you never know what can happen. The injury can come any time and, touch wood, it will not happen, but you never know.

You have to be ready. You have to be in a good mind to accept things how they are and try to be ready for anything.

Q. I just saw the video with Federer. I just wondered how that came about, and will Roger be invited back for the next challenge?

ELINA SVITOLINA: No, it was actually very natural. He was in our video, I think it was in February in Dubai, so when Gael was training with him over the weekend in Geneva, we were just laughing about that, and then just we said we did this cool challenge where I was swinging the balls at Gael, and he tried and he was quite funny, and then everyone knows what happened afterwards.

Yeah, he was actually very sad that it happened like that, but it was fun. Not for Gael, though.

Q. Will he be invited back for the next one?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, we have to create the next one, so that's a work in progress.

Q. After the match you were asked if you and Gael talk a lot about tennis, and you said, "I am the boss." You've also coached...

ELINA SVITOLINA: That was a joke. That was a joke, because I'm going to get told off after he gets off the court that I said that. It was a joke.

Q. You've also told us about your business interests, as well. I would like to know what makes a good boss? What are the skills to be a good boss?

ELINA SVITOLINA: The good boss is the one who understands, because I think it has to be both ways, and I think relationships go both ways. You have to listen and you have to speak. It's all about the communication.

That's the understanding, as well, because for sure I have my opinion, but sometimes it's really tough to say because the person has its own feeling, its own opinion, and sometimes you just have to step back to understand that maybe the person is not seeing it the same way. You have to understand. You have to try to work with that. That's the understanding, and talking about the problem on the court, off the court, I think that's the most important.