Elina Svitolina from Ukraine is in the semi-finals at Wimbledon. Since last year, the 28-year-old – who is married to Frenchman Gaël Monfils – has been the mother of a daughter.

Elina Svitolina (also: Switolina) from Ukraine is number 76 in the tennis world. The 28-year-old is only in Wimbledon thanks to a wild card. But Svitolina, who has only been back from her maternity leave since April, surprisingly beat the number 1 in the tennis world, Iga Swiatek from Poland. A few weeks ago, the 22-year-old Swiatek had won the French Open in Paris.

Daughter Skaï is with daddy in Paris
At home in Paris at the moment is her daughter Skai, born in October 2022 – with her dad, tennis pro Gaël Monfils (36). Her parents are also in France, she said.

Daughter Skai had an ice cream after the match, the little one is at an age where she is not interested in her mum’s victories, Svitolina said after reaching the semi-finals.

The Ukrainian will face Markéta Vondroušová of the Czech Republic at Wimbledon on Thursday.

Bringing a little joy to the lives of people in Ukraine.
The 28-year-old from Odessa said she knows many in her home country are watching her games. She gets masses of messages and is happy to bring a bit of joy into the lives of people in Ukraine.

Svitolina also said in the press conference in London that the war and the baby have made her a different person. She has no more time to lose now.

When asked by a journalist what it would mean to her if she won Wimbledon, Svitolina replied that it would be “crazy”, she hadn’t even thought about it yet. The tennis player explained that she was only thinking about one match at a time.

️ just listen to this crowd ️Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/KzZrPVq7AH

– wta (@WTA) July 9, 2023

Like several other professional tennis players from Ukraine, Svitolina refuses to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents on the court – as a sign against Russia’s war of aggression.