Elina Svitolina has announced she hopes to make a return to the WTA Tour in the 2023 tennis season as she shared news of a new management partnership.
The Ukrainian star took a break from tennis to give birth to her first child with husband Gael Monfils, becoming parents to daughter Skai Monfils in October last year.
Svitolina - who has been as high as No.3 in the world - has signed a deal with Kosmos Management, a boutique athlete representation agency that also has Dominic Thiem and Daria Kasatkina on its clientele.
And, in a joint statement alongside her new management company, described her future with the firm as an "exciting new beginning."
She said:
"I am really happy to sign with Kosmos Management and work with the team. This is an exciting time in my life and I look forward to exploring different business opportunities with John, Galo, and the team. I can't wait to start."— Elina Svitolina
A spokesperson for Kosmos added:
"Elina, who has won 16 WTA singles titles, will be working with John Morris as she looks to make her return to tennis in 2023 after having given birth to her first child last year."
Svitolina's last match was in Miami in April 2022 when she lost a final set tiebreak to Britain's Heather Watson.
Her ranking has plummeted since she stepped away and she currently sits at World No. 236.
However, she will be hoping to rediscover the form that saw her reach both the Wimbledon and US Open semi-finals in 2019 and show that she can return to the top.
Shortly before Christmas, Svitolina shared a picture from a training session with her husband, suggesting that they were celebrating "date night" by training together.
Monfils is also said to be gearing up for a comeback to the tour after missing major parts of the 2022 season.