Elina SVITOLINA: “Gael played a big part in my transformation”

Former leader of Ukrainian women’s tennis Elina Svitolina He spoke to reporters before the demonstrations began on the 60,000-metre dirt track in Chiasso (Switzerland):

“Why did I decide to play Chiasso? I’ve always loved Ticino [швейцарский кантон, где находится город Кьяссо], my husband lives in Switzerland and I’ve heard great things about this tournament. Thank you to the organizers for the wild card.

The feeling of being back on the court in Charleston was great, I missed those feelings. Chiasso is an excellent tournament to play good matches and restore stability, but I will treat every tournament as match by match. Since January, I started training again with the aim of returning as soon as possible, and I worked on the dirt for two months knowing that my first games would most likely coincide with this time of the season.

Gael played a big part in my transformation. We were both getting ready to get back to tennis this winter, and it was great because we motivated each other: it’s important to have someone who understands your goals.

What are my ranking goals? I give priority to my tennis because the ranking will be a result of the level at which I can show.

This week Elina Svitolina performs at the ITF tournament in Chiasso (Switzerland). Her first rival is Elena-Gabriela Ruse.