THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2021

Elina Svitolina

Press Conference

M. LINETTE/E. Svitolina

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I'm just wondering what do you think wasn't really working for you today against Magda?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I think she was taking everything in her hands, and I was a bit passive. You know, she played really clean today and really was striking the ball unbelievable. Made a lot of winners.

Me, I was not, yeah, I was not taking my opportunities. You know, it was really tough for me to get back the incentive in the rallies and to really try to dominate. I was making maybe few more errors than I wanted, and in the end, you know, it's grass so everything goes quite quick.

You know, she played unbelievable, to be fair, today.

Q. Obviously there wasn't grass last year. I'm wondering, has the two-year gap between the grass court seasons made it tougher to find your rhythm on this surface?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I wouldn't say so. Anyway, we don't have so many matches on the grass, so if it's one year, two years, it pretty much doesn't make any difference.

We have been playing tennis, and, you know, when you switch the surface, it's not really matter if it's two years or one year, because it's just, like, it's a new surface. So you're starting almost from zero all the time. Doesn't matter on the time.

Q. Just wondering whether you felt fine when you went out on court, or was there anything maybe early in the match that made you feel like you weren't able to play your best today?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, I think physically I was okay. For sure, you know, everyone, every athlete has a bit of pain here and there, because, you know, a lot of pressure and you all the time competing in the highest level, so you push your body. So for sure there is some pain here and there, but it's fine. It's pretty much normal situation.

But I think mentally today I was not really in a good place, and I don't know, I have to look back. I need some time to analyze, but I think mentally it was not very good for me today.

Q. I'm curious, the men's game obviously we have dominant players such as Novak at the moment, he's kind of winning everything. And in the women's draw, it seems like there are so many players who can, you know, come through and win Grand Slams. Does that make it that much more difficult for you to sort of make the breakthrough, the fact that the depth seems to be as strong as it's ever been?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, for sure. I think there been a lot of talk about that that for the past two years there have been really a big race in women's game where, you know, anyone can win any tournament. You know, a lot of good players, doesn't matter on the ranking, they can challenge you with amazing performance. First, second round, you know, there is all the time tough matches.

You know, everyone is extremely fit. I think it's also a big step for tennis. Everyone seems like the same level. So I think that's what's really changed. It's like physically everyone is ready to beat you.

Q. I just wanted to follow up on what you said about the mental difficulty you had today, if you could explain that a little more or clarify what you meant by that.

ELINA SVITOLINA: It's just, you know, when you play Grand Slam, is all the time a lot, different kind of pressure. Sometimes, you know, it's tough to handle, tough to handle, but is the part of the job, is the part of the Grand Slam. You know, you have to try to, you know, to be strong, try to be good, you know, to yourself and try to overcome, you know, the fears, the difficulties.

Today probably I was not fresh mentally to do that. I have been on the tour for years now and been different kind of situations. But right now I wouldn't say it's very smooth times in my career right now.

For sure, it's tough time, but I have been in these situations in my career few times. And it's the matter how you come back, how you bounce back from tough loses, tough times in the career.

So, yeah, mentally for sure I need, you know, I need to reset, I need to rest. I need to, you know, feel again fresh to play the upcoming tournaments.

Q. With the Olympics coming up, it's obviously a unique event. I know it means a lot to you. Do you feel that the Olympics can perhaps be the reset you need? How are you viewing it?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, for sure, Olympics is all the time very special to me. I try to be ready for it. We have a little bit of time right now to, you know, to rest, to prepare for it, you know, to change to hard courts, to get stronger physically.

I really want to play well in the Olympics, but right now I don't know. I don't feel like I'm in a good place mentally, so I need some time off and just try to rest and be ready.