THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 9, 2023

Elina Svitolina

Press Conference

E. SVITOLINA/V. Azarenka

2-6, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Elina Svitolina.

Elina, quite the battle out there. Just give us your thoughts on the match and how you came through.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, was extremely, extremely tough match. Lots of things was happening. Was a set down, 0-2 down. Really upset with my level. Was slowly getting back into it.

Yeah, was unbelievable moment for me to win that match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I wanted to ask about your next opponent in the quarterfinal. You will play Iga. What is your thoughts about her?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Firstly, she's a great champion, also a great person. I'm really thankful for her support of Ukrainians, Ukraine, doing everything what is in her power, being vocal about that. She had also a big battle today, as well.

Yes, for me, to be fair, I didn't speak yet with my coach about what's going to be the plan. But I'm going to tomorrow have a practice day. The priority is going to be to recover. Then I'm going to sit down with my coach, go through the game plan, see how I can find a way to beat her.

Q. How do you feel physically after four hard matches?

ELINA SVITOLINA: So far I feel fine. For me, as soon as I had opportunity to practice, as soon as I had the green light from doctors, at the beginning of my comeback I was really working hard on my fitness, I was working out a lot. This was really priority for me.

Now I feel like this was the right way. It was the right thing to do. Then it took little bit of time for me to transfer it on the court.

But, yeah, I'm very happy with my fitness so far. Have my physio here right now. We are working hard to prepare me for each match. So far it's been injury-free. This is the priority right now.

Q. How do you think this result will be viewed in your homeland? Do you think it was right that you should have been playing someone from Belarus in the first place?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I got lots of support, and I quickly checked my phone. There was like over 60, 70 messages that I got from people. They were watching, they were cheering, lots of videos from people watching it on the TV. Really proud of the effort that I did.

I was there when I was down, 0-2 down, I was really feeling bad because I didn't show up for the match to just play like that. I was really upset about that. Just told myself that I have to fight. I have to give everything here.

Then in the end, just slowly got back into the match. Yeah, this mindset really pushed me through because I have no right to complain, you know, in this situation. I just had to go out there and fight.

Q. The second part of that was, do you think it was right that you should have been playing somebody from Belarus in the first place?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, last year it was clear message from Wimbledon. This year it was changed because of different kind of pressure.

Yeah, I already answered this question I think first day of the media that, yeah, I don't really support the change.

Q. What you said on the court about after the birth of Skai, that being the happiest moment of your life. If you could, explain why that's the happiest of all the victories and all the moments you've had.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Because how hard this match was and how much it means to me, as well. I know that a lot of people back home watching, supporting me. I feel responsibility, as well.

So if I'm going out to play this match against Russian, Belarusian, I feel of course more pressure that I need to win. That's why it means a lot to get these kinds of wins.

In my own way, to bring this victory, small victory, to Ukraine.

Q. Wimbledon said at the start of the tournament they would be paying for your accommodation. How does it work on a logistical level, Wimbledon and the accommodation?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yes, actually today we're talking with some of Ukrainians about this, that it's a huge help for us. Starting from any tournament leading up to Wimbledon, our accommodation was paid. Even if you lost in quallies, the accommodation was paid. You had a chance to practice, to prepare well.

Here, as well. It's a huge help for us because a lot of players right now, they had to relocate completely. They are paying for their family, for their friends somewhere in Europe to find new home.

Any help is really a huge help for us because our expenses are much more these days than I guess years before the war.

Q. What did you make of the crowd reaction both to yourself and also to your opponent who was booed off the court?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, I got the same. I got the same in Paris. I played three matches in Paris in this way. Today, as well.

For me personally, I think the tennis organizations, they have to come out with a statement that there will be no handshake between Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian players. I don't know if it's maybe not clear for people. Some people not really know what is happening. So I think this is the right way to do.

Q. Did you think it was a bit unfair on your opponent?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, it was like this in Paris. It also was unfair for me in Paris quarterfinal.

Q. Here you had a lot of support. There were shouts of 'Slava Ukraini' as well.

ELINA SVITOLINA: It was Ukrainians. It was Ukrainians who were there. I heard a lot of Ukrainian people actually in the cloud. This was really special. And the crowd was amazing, was really unbelievable feeling. I think one of the best atmospheres that I ever played.

Q. What we're getting at is, were you surprised at the hostility directed at Azarenka?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Sorry, I didn't hear.

Q. Were you surprised at the hostility directed towards Azarenka?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, as I mentioned, each player that loses, and there is no handshake, it's getting booed I feel like.

So I don't know. If today would be a different reaction if I would lose, I don't know. I cannot really answer this question.

In Paris it was like this. I had unbelievable support for other matches. But in quarterfinal, I got booed off the court.

I don't know (smiling).

Q. I think the crowd maybe thought that she was the one that wasn't shaking your hand.

ELINA SVITOLINA: The same as it was in Paris. I all the time say that.

I think the right thing to do is to come out. I already said multiple times that until Russian troops are out of Ukraine and we take back our territories, not going to shake hands. So I have clear statement.

I don't know how more clear I can be.

Q. I understand that. It seemed like she was trying to be respectful.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, yeah, I have no problem. It's not like it was quarterfinal in Paris. So no problem. I have no problem with that.

Q. About your aggressive tactics, a lot of people have noticed since you've come back. Has it been a technical change or mindset change? How much of a challenge has that been for you to go for more aggressive shots?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, always was looking to be more aggressive, trying few things here and there.

But now, since the comeback, I try to look a bit differently. I have a new team with me. Just trying to bring something new into my game.

I don't know how many years I'm going to be on tour more, so why not to try few different things. I feel like my body is good. Physically I'm feeling quite good. Of course there's few things that I still physically want to improve.

But I'm feeling good and comfortable on the baseline. I made few changes on my racquet. I changed the racquet. I changed the string. Have new team, as well.

I don't try to be the same as I was before. Okay, I reached quite good ranking, No. 3 in the world, good results. But right now it's a new chapter for me. I want to bring something new.

So far it's been working well. If something would be off, I would probably do something different. So far the balance been fine, and results confirms this.

So for me every time I step on the court I try to work on things that we speak with the team.