Elina Svitolina Gets Emotional Talking About Growth of Tennis in Ukraine Amid War: “Seven Players in Top 100 is Very Impressive”

Elina Svitolina breezed past Hailey Baptiste in the third round of the Italian Open to schedule her next match against Nikola Bartunkova, the qualifier, who ended 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys‘ run. At the press conference afterward, Svitolina talked about the growth of tennis in Ukraine amid the war against Russia.

The 31-year-old has been enjoying decent form this season, having played the semifinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the Indian Wells Open. She also reached the title clash of the Dubai Tennis Championships but failed to go past Jessica Pegula.

Another Ukrainian ace has also been making headlines due to her performance. It’s Marta Kostyuk, who lost the Brisbane International final to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and clinched the Open de Rouen and the Madrid Open by defeating Veronika Podrez and Mirra Andreeva, respectively.

Marta has always been a very strong player. Now she is more consistent and playing at a very high level. It’s amazing. Not only that, but having seven Ukrainians in the top 100 is very impressive, especially considering the war and everything happening in our country. I think it’s a great inspiration for younger generations and shows that it’s possible.

Elina Svitolina said

Svitolina made two finals this year. Before her defeat to Pegula in the Dubai final, she lifted her career’s 19th singles title by defeating Wang Xinyu in the ASB Classic final.

We have a great spirit in the Billie Jean King Cup team, and we are very good friends. With some, like the Kichenok sisters [Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok], I practically grew up together. Marta and Dayana [Yastremska] came a little later. I feel like the player with the most experience because there may be nine or ten years of difference with some of them. Sometimes I try not to see myself as a competitor against them because they are starting their careers, and I am approaching the end of mine.

Elina Svitolina added

Yastremska also competed in Rome, but her campaign did not last long time. Anastasia Zakharova came from a set down to defeat the 25-year-old in the first round.

Elina Svitolina wanted to take her revenge on Hailey Baptiste

Before their latest clash, Hailey Baptiste met Elina Svitolina in the third round of this year’s Miami Open. The American ace clinched the win in straight sets. At the press conference, Svitolina admitted she was very disappointed with her performance in Miami, and praised Baptiste for producing solid tennis. Svitolina eyed revenge on the 24-year-old in their Rome fixture.

I knew Hailey is a good player, very tricky, and you have to be really focused from start to finish. I also wanted to get revenge from Miami. She played a great match there. I wanted to play better and differently.

Svitolina now holds a 2-1 head-to-head edge over Baptiste. She is chasing her third title in the tournament, having tasted victory in the Italian capital back in 2017 and 2018 by defeating Simona Halep both of those times.

Svitolina has so far lifted seven titles on clay, the last of which she won in last year’s Open de Rouen by defeating Olga Danilovic. Last year in Rome, Svitolina suffered a three-set defeat at the hands of Peyton Stearns in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open.

She then skipped the Strasbourg Open, and later at the French Open, she lost to three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. Svitolina has never made it past the quarterfinals of the clay-court Major, reaching the stage five times (2015, 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2025). She has never played a Grand Slam final.

Also read: Joao Fonseca Urges Fans to Show Restraint After Heated Italian Open Loss to Hamad Medjedovic