THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 11, 2023

Elina Svitolina

Press Conference

E. SVITOLINA/I. Swiatek

7-5, 6-7, 6-2

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

Elina, in the semifinals. Tell us how you're feeling right now.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, it's unbelievable. Really happy with the performance today. Yeah, just really, really happy everything could click in the right moments for me before Wimbledon. Yeah, I'm just happy with the performance today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What does it mean for you and your country this incredible win today?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Means definitely a lot. I know that lots of people back in Ukraine watching. I got really massive amount of messages from last round. I didn't really check my phone yet today, but I think there will be a lot of messages, a lot of news.

I'm happy I can bring little happiness to their life. There was many videos also on Internet where the kids are watching on their phones. This really makes my heart melt seeing this. Just happy I could bring little happiness to people of Ukraine.

Q. This whole experience, obviously having the child, the war, having this higher purpose, has it made you a better tennis player in the sense that when you're on the court, you're experiencing these tight matches in a different way than you used to?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I think it's mixture of everything. Also I think war made me stronger and also made me, like, mentally stronger. Mentally I don't take difficult situations as like a disaster, you know? There are worse things in life. I'm just more calmer.

I think also, because I'm just started to play again, I have different pressures. Of course, I want to win. I have this motivation, like huge motivation, to come back to the top. But I think having a child, and war, made me a different person. I look at the things a bit differently.

Q. There was a time in your career when you were a top player, but it wasn't always easy for you to bring your best form to the Grand Slams. I'm wondering how different a big match and big moments feel now compared to when you were ranked No. 3 in the world.

ELINA SVITOLINA: It's different right now. Right now I just say to myself I think it's less years that I have in front than behind me. I have to go for it. I don't have time to lose anymore. I don't know how many years I will be playing more.

So just I try to tell myself like go for it. You practice for these moments, for these big moments. Like today I was walking through the path where you go to the Centre Court, you see so much history. You just realize you practice for these kind of moments. Just I told myself, Go out there, give your best, go for it.

This really helped me and calmed me a little bit, as well.

Q. You said on court if someone had told you you'd be in a semifinals, you would have thought they were crazy. You're in the semifinals, beaten the world No. 1. Can you win Wimbledon?

ELINA SVITOLINA: You crazy (laughter)?

Well, I don't think so much about it, well, until you told me this. I take one match at a time. I know that there is few matches left to get that trophy.

But, yeah, I don't want to think so much about this because you need to break down everything to small pieces. I want tomorrow to practice, to work on few tactical things for my upcoming match, then play that match.

Marketa, she's a tough opponent. Is going to be a tough challenge for me. That's why I don't want to rush and think about I might be playing a final, might not play the final.

These kind of things, I think they distract so much the mindset.

Q. What was it like for you to have the support of the British crowd today? Also, would you like to say something about the way in which Britain has supported Ukraine during this conflict.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, it's a massive support from England, English people here, as well. I think we got a great welcome. All Ukrainians. We spoke a couple days ago about that, enjoyed our stay. Really thankful for The Championships to also give us extra support.

Of course, generally speaking, it was unbelievable what England did and doing for Ukrainians. We can't thank enough for them to do everything what's in their power.

I heard many, many stories. It's great. Really unbelievable.

Q. Iga was here saying she felt like you're playing differently than the last time you faced her, that your game had changed. Do you feel it's the case?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yes, definitely. I mention already before, couple of days ago, that I changed a few things with my racquet, with my strings.

Also I have different team. With Raemon, even before I started to play tournaments, we were talking a lot about the game style, the game style of different players. We had this time, like, I think three and a half or maybe four months, to work on few things, also talk about it, how I should practice to improve few things here and there.

He watched a gazillion matches of me playing different opponents. Everything, like, clicked together. I'm happy on which path we are right now. We are making small steps towards our goal.

Q. Where is your daughter? How much of a chance have you been getting to see her while you're here?

ELINA SVITOLINA: She's with Gael right now at home. I was FaceTiming with her just right after the match actually. She was really distracted with her ice cream, so I was not the priority there (smiling). She is still at this age when she doesn't care if I win, if I lose. She's just happy by herself or sometimes when I come back home she's happy, too.

Yeah, I enjoy seeing her happy with Gael. Our moms are helping us a lot, as well. It's great that we have a big family and lots of help.

Q. Could you describe what it was like to be back out on Centre Court in front of that crowd who was so in support of you today.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, it was like crazy, crazy feeling. I cannot describe it in one word. Lots of good rallies we had. Lots of good games. Tough situations. Tough moments.

The crowd was great today. Really enjoyed the match. Even though I was really disappointed with the second set, that I couldn't win in two, but Iga played unbelievable. All credits to her to winning that second set.

But then I tried to bounce back, tried to again go again. Yeah, just found myself winning the match in the end.

Q. Iga Swiatek supports Ukraine. Still playing with the flag on her hat. What does it mean for you? Does it mean that this game today was a little bit easier for you?

ELINA SVITOLINA: It was much tougher game I would say because she's a great person, she's a big champion. She done so much, and doing still so much for Ukraine. We really admire her in Ukraine.

In the way when you're playing your good buddy, it's tough because you don't want to see her/him losing. So in a way it's like this.

When I was away from tennis, I was really cheering for her, really happy with the results, really amazed what she is doing. It's really remarkable.

Yeah, I would say it was quite tough, to be fair.

Q. Can you tell us how Raemon helps you?

ELINA SVITOLINA: We talk a lot about different game styles. We talk about the way that I play. Firstly, he's a great guy, he's a great person. I think we really enjoy working together on the court, off the court, as well.

Yeah, just something clicked together. So far it's working well. I'm happy that we found this connection. I think from other times, when you start working with someone, normally it happens during the offseason and you have like couple of weeks to work together, then you're straight into Australian Open.

Us, we had more period of time because I was coming back slowly, had three months, four months to work on few things. We could actually have time to work properly on some things that we think that I have to bring into my game. That's why I think it's little bit different than other situations.

Q. What does this semifinal mean to you after pregnancy break?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, it means the world to me. As I said, I didn't really expect that I'll be in semifinal. Just try to take one match at a time.

I want to continue going this way. Have in front of me a big challenge. But I'm really, really proud the way that I've been playing against tough opponents, Grand Slam champions, the players who knows how to win, how to play pressure moments.

Really happy with my performance and with the way that I've been handling the situation so far.

Q. You said that Gael has parenting responsibilities. Is it possible at all he might come and watch the next match or the final?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I wouldn't want to change so much the things. I'm not really superstitious, but I don't want to jinx few things (smiling).

He's happy at home. He's watching from home with Skai and with my parents, as well. He has his routines as well before my match. He's also right now recovering and getting ready for the U.S. swing.

It's okay. I let him stay at home for now.

Q. Harry Styles has offered you free tickets. What does it mean to know that he's supporting you? Have you heard from anyone from his team when you might be able to go see him?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I checked his upcoming concerts that's left. It depends how I'm going to do here. But looks like I might not make it in the end because obviously I want to go home to see my daughter as well.

I don't know if I actually could make it to his concert this time. I really want. He messaged me, as well, that any time I could go to see his concert. It was very sweet from him. Yeah, hopefully one day I can go.

Q. There are soldiers in your homeland fighting. What are your thoughts about those men and women? If you could say something to them, what would you say?

ELINA SVITOLINA: It's really unbelievable what they are doing for our country. I can't thank enough for their bravery, for what they are going through. It really takes a lot to go to fight for your country.

Yeah, just really, really thankful for what they're doing for Ukraine. All Ukrainians, we are here to help them to win this war.

Q. I know you're focusing on the semifinal. The Wimbledon crowd is cheering you on. On Saturday you could be playing a Belarusian. Is that a motivation? How would you approach that match?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Well, it's still very, very far from that. I already played Azarenka the day before, so yeah, I cannot say much.

Q. (Off microphone.)

ELINA SVITOLINA: For sure, for sure.

As I mentioned before, each time I play against them, it's big motivation, big responsibility as well for me. Different motivation as well for my country.

But right now it's very, very far. It seems very close, but it's very far from this. Still I have to win some matches. They have to win some matches. So let's stay here right now.