Elina Svitolina said she is already excited about the future after playing in her first tennis event in 13 months.
Svitolina returned to the court at the 2023 Charleston Open on a wildcard entry - her first event since she had her first child with men's player Gael Monfils in October. But, the Ukrainian player certainly felt some rustiness as she suffered a first-round defeat in three sets against Yulia Putintseva.
Despite the defeat, Svitolina told the Tennis Channel that she felt positive after returning to professional action and said she knows where to improve moving forward.
"I had goosebumps. It was a really, really sweet atmosphere out there. It was so nice to see many people, and they were really cheering me on to push through some tough moments. It was not easy physically for me today, but in the end, I'm really happy with the way I played today. Now, I can see more clear what I need to improve to be better."
The 28-year-old also pointed to some particular areas of her game that she was happy with. In the end, she felt that her fitness levels weren't quite at the competitive level.
"I think I'm hitting the ball well. I just have to work more on my fitness. I think a few bits here and there are going to help me to keep the focus more consistently, to be there in the moment. I think a few things here and there are going to make a difference for me."
Svitolina also organised a pro-am event at the Charleston Open to raise financial support for people in Ukraine affected by the ongoing war with Russia. The former world number three expressed her gratitude for the support in a heartfelt moment.
"I'm really thankful for this opportunity, that the tournament made all this effort, the players as well who were there, I'm sure these funds will go to help people of Ukraine. We really need ... these funds for Ukrainian people these days."
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