Svitolina Finding Tournaments 'Little Bit Easier' With Daughter's Company
WTA
Elina Svitolina has opened up about the joy of having her daughter with her during the early-season competitions in New Zealand and Australia.
Svitolina and her partner Gael Monfils welcomed their daughter Skai in late 2022, and the Ukranian returned to competitive tennis mid-way through the 2023 season.
While the 29-year-old has achieved plenty after returning, such as reaching the Wimbledon semi-final, she admitted in the summer of 2023 that it was a tough decision to travel without Skai.
In 2024, Svitolina hit some decent early-season form after she reached the ASB Classic final and cruised to a first-round Australian Open win over Taylah Preston.
One major difference spurring Svitolina this time around, though, is the presence of Skai, who has traveled with the Ukranian to New Zealand and Australia.
"Skai is here with us. It was a long trip all the way from Europe, first New Zealand and now here. I'm happy that I brought her with me. I had some trips without her, like, to Wimbledon, for example."
"To US Open, as well, she didn't come. But now since she's already one year and four months, you know, it's a little bit easier, as well, with the long flights."
Svitolina was honest about some of the difficulties of traveling with a young child. But the world number 23 also explained that there are plenty of positives about having Skai with her at the Australian Open.
"Even though it was not easy for us because she got very sick the day before we left, so we had to push back the flight. And, you know, these kind of things you do now these days putting the priority of your child, it is the life like this right now,"
"But I'm so happy that we decided to bring her here with us. We spend so much of nice time and really enjoy time together, the weather is super nice. In Europe a little bit cold, snowing (smiling). So it's nice for her to be here, spend a lot of time in the park with my mom, with the nanny, as well,"
