At Roland Garros, Svitolina is a star. Married to Frenchman Gaël Monfils since July 2021, the 28-year-old is encouraged as if she were too. Spectators at the Paris tournament probably also remember her good past results, when she was in the quarters in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

But in the meantime, "Lina", as the public often calls her, has been away from the circuit for a year, saying she is "mentally exhausted" and anxious about the war Russia has been waging in her country since February 2022.

Her break continued when she became pregnant. After giving birth to Skaï, a baby born last October from her union with Monfils, she resumed racquets, then competition in April. All while having dropped from twentieth to 1,344th place in the WTA rankings.

Porte d'Auteuil, she confirms for the moment the promises of renewal born of her victory at the WTA 250 of Strasbourg just before the start of the Parisian Grand Slam, with successes against the Italian Marta Trevisan (26th), the Australian Storm Hunter (204th) and the Russian Anna Blinkova (56th).

"It takes a huge effort"

She must now pass an obstacle of a completely different scale: the Russian Daria Kasatkina, ninth player in the world.

"It's already great for me to go through two rounds, I didn't think I would be able to play at this level," said the Ukrainian, who benefits from a protected ranking allowing her to play the Parisian fortnight.

"I'm working very hard to get back to my level," she said. As you can see, I'm moving slowly with wins, and that's a good sign."

This comeback, the Ukrainian wanted it as soon as she became pregnant. "I already knew when I was pregnant that I would come back, because I wanted to do it for myself," she says. I have goals to achieve before I retire."

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina (L), against Russia's Anna Blinkova, during a match at Roland Garros on June 2, 2023 © Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

She already seems to have achieved one: to become efficient again after pregnancy, which is not an easy task as the body changes. Or even a second: to inspire other high-level women athletes.

"I hope so," she replies. I myself am inspired by other women who gave birth and returned to the sport. Of course, it takes a huge effort."

"I fight for my country"

A source of inspiration for sportswomen, the native of Odessa also wants to be for her compatriots.

"Every time I step on the court, I'm going to give 100 per cent ... to do something for my country," she said. There is a flag next to my name, so I am fighting for my country."

The one who left the circuit at first because of the anguish that the conflict gave her feels "anger, sadness, pain to see all this".

Like several other Ukrainian players, she also refuses to shake hands with her Russian and Belarusian opponents, as after her victory against Blinkova.

She also does not hesitate to assert her convictions in the media spotlight. "I am Ukrainian, I do everything I can to support (...) Those who are on the frontlines, who are fighting for our country, our lands, she explains. Now imagine that these people see me acting as if nothing had happened... What the Russians are doing to our country is really awful."

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, May 31, 2023 at Roland-Garros (Paris) © Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP/Archives

Now, Svitolina, who has won seventeen titles, also plays to bring "those moments of joy to Ukrainians, to children who played tennis before the war and who no longer have this opportunity".

The 192nd player in the world, on the other hand, has the opportunity to reach the quarters on the Parisian ochre, provided she beats Kasatkina (9th) on Sunday.

© 2023 AFP