Elina Svitolina ‘Brings Light’ to Ukraine After Dismantling Coco Gauff at Australian Open: “For My Country, It’s Great”

Elina Svitolina spoiled third seed Coco Gauff's dream of winning her career's first Australian Open title.

Elina Svitolina ‘Brings Light’ to Ukraine After Dismantling Coco Gauff at Australian Open: “For My Country, It’s Great”

Elina Svitolina, Coco Gauff (Image via X/Elina Monfils, WTA)

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Elina Svitolina will be playing her career’s fourth Grand Slam semifinal. She will face perhaps the toughest challenge in the tournament as her semifinal opponent is none other than Aryna Sabalenka.

En route to reaching her first Australian Open semifinal, the Ukrainian demolished Coco Gauff in straight sets, improving her head-to-head record to 2-2. At the press conference after her win, Svitolina was asked if she managed to take a look at any messages of support from Ukraine.

Just quickly. There have been many messages. I saw there are lots of them. Of course.. For my country, it’s great. I know lots of people have been watching. Especially the matches I had before. It’s very close to my heart to see a lot of support from Ukrainians… and lots of people also get to know tennis in Ukraine, which is great.

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, is dealing with an electricity shortage after Russia’s strike on its energy infrastructure. Countrywoman Marta Kostyuk got emotional while mentioning the sufferings of people back home after losing the Brisbane International final to Sabalenka.

Right now, it was one of the toughest winters for Ukrainian people, without electricity and everything. I feel like bringing this light, a little light, even just positive news to Ukrainian people, to my friends when they’re watching my matches. Of course, it’s a great feeling for me.

Elina Svitolina added

Before arriving in Melbourne, while Sabalenka defended her Brisbane International title, Svitolina clinched the ASB Classic against Wang Xinyu. Sabalenka is chasing her third title at Melbourne Park and is bidding to reach her fourth consecutive final in the tournament.

In 2023, she defeated Elena Rybakina, while in 2024, she went past Qinwen Zheng. Last year, Madison Keys spoiled her three-peat goal. After losing the Australian Open and the French Open (to Gauff) finals, Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open crown by defeating Amanda Anisimova.

Amanda Anisimova backs Coco Gauff’s call for more privacy

Coco Gauff wanted to let out her frustrations without anyone watching her. She found a quiet corner and smashed her racket only to realize later that it had become viral on the internet.

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff (via Punto de Break)

At the press conference, the 21-year-old called for more off-camera areas for the players’ need for privacy. Iga Swiatek is also of the same opinion, saying tennis players are humans and not “animals in a zoo”. Amanda Anisimova was also asked whether players need more privacy from behind-the-scenes cameras at the press conference following her defeat to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.

You kind of know after a few days or four or five days that obviously you see on the internet, you’re walking around. I knew that was there, so I just kept my head down and went to the locker room. There are good moments, obviously, that people see, and that’s fun. When you lose, there are probably not-so-good moments. I think the fact that the video of Coco that was posted it’s tough because she didn’t have a say in that.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist reached the quarterfinals of the Major Down Under for the first time in her career. Before the Australian Open, she played at the Brisbane International, where Marta Kostyuk ended her run in the fourth round.

Last year, Anisimova lifted two titles from three finals. She won the Qatar Open and the China Open. Before losing the US Open to Sabalenka, the 24-year-old suffered a double bagel defeat to Swiatek in the Wimbledon final.

Gauff, a one-time semifinalist in Melbourne, also crashed out in the quarterfinals last year. Before the Australian Open, she represented the US at the United Cup but they failed to defend their title, losing to eventual champions Poland in the semifinals.

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