Svitolina is refreshed after a mental health break and into Australian Open’s 3rd round

Elina Svitolina advanced to the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, defeating Linda Klimovicova 7-5, 6-1 in a match that showcased her renewed energy following a mental health break at the end of last year.

The 12th-seeded Ukrainian will next face No. 23 Diana Schnaider as she continues her campaign at Melbourne Park, where she reached the quarterfinals last year before falling to eventual champion Madison Keys.

Svitolina’s victory came just hours after her husband, Gael Monfils, bid farewell to the Australian Open in his retirement year. The popular 39-year-old Frenchman concluded his 20th campaign at Melbourne Park with a first-round loss to qualifier Dane Sweeny on Tuesday, with Svitolina supporting him courtside.

In September, the 31-year-old Svitolina announced she would take the remainder of 2023 off from competitive tennis. This decision came shortly after she publicly addressed hateful online abuse from frustrated gamblers following a match loss in Canada.

“It was more mental, I would say,” Svitolina explained on Wednesday when reflecting on her decision to step away from the tour. “Physical, of course, I mean, with the many months of playing high intensity, of course you get a little bit worn down.”

She elaborated on the mental toll of professional tennis: “I think mental, it was something that I was more, like, checked out a little bit. Sometimes you need to step back and try to stay away from it and just try to regroup and be, again, back with new energy.”

The hiatus appears to have paid dividends. Svitolina arrived in Melbourne after claiming the title at a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand—her 19th WTA Tour victory—suggesting that her competitive edge has returned stronger than ever.

“I can see now that I’m more refreshed,” she said. “I’m ready to face difficult situations in the matches, and I think the matches that I had in Auckland and couple of here, when I face difficult situations, I’m ready to accept that sometimes things are not going your way, and you have to fight, you have to dig deep and try to find a way to win.”

Beyond personal achievement, Svitolina remains committed to using her platform to draw attention to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. This mission has become an additional source of motivation for her return to competition.

“To try to represent our country in the right way,” she stated. “And use our voices to bring the attention, to bring the help, and to not forget that we can use our voices to bring the help, to bring the attention to our homeland.”

Svitolina’s career has been marked by consistent excellence, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world. Her Grand Slam results include semifinal appearances at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, along with three quarterfinal finishes at the Australian Open.

While balancing her professional responsibilities with family life—she and Monfils have a three-year-old daughter named Skaï—Svitolina acknowledges that tennis dominates much of their household conversation, especially during tournaments.

“It’s difficult to escape and not talk about tennis because being both at such a high level and competing in the same tournament,” she admitted. “Of course tennis is always a part of our life right now, but the years go on and I’m not sure how it’s going to be after—I’m sure we’re going to enjoy it as a family.”

As the tournament progresses, Svitolina’s return to form represents an inspiring narrative of resilience and rejuvenation in professional sports. Her ability to step away from competition when needed and return with renewed purpose demonstrates the importance of mental health awareness in elite athletics, a topic gaining increased recognition across sporting disciplines.

With her next match scheduled for Friday against Schnaider, Svitolina appears well-positioned to continue her impressive comeback at one of tennis’s most prestigious events.