Ukrainian · Odesa, Ukraine · Born 12 September 1994Elina Svitolina is a Ukrainian professional tennis player who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 3 and multiple Grand Slam semifinals.
Elina Mykhailivna Svitolina was born on 12 September 1994 in Odesa, Ukraine, and began playing tennis at five after noticing the attention her older brother received for playing the sport. At 13, businessman Yuriy Sapronov became her sponsor, and she won the French Open girls' singles title in 2010 before turning professional that same year. Svitolina became the first Ukrainian woman to break into the world's top 10, reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 in September 2017, and won the season-ending WTA Finals in 2018, defeating Sloane Stephens in the championship match. She won a bronze medal in singles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Svitolina married French tennis player Gaël Monfils in July 2021, having begun their relationship in 2018, and stepped back from tennis in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine — a deeply personal crisis given her hometown of Odesa's strategic position in the conflict — before announcing her pregnancy and giving birth to daughter Skai in October 2022. Svitolina returned to competitive tennis in April 2023 and delivered a remarkable Wimbledon semi-final run that summer, continuing to compete at the top level while running the Elina Svitolina Foundation, which supports causes in her native Ukraine.
Ukrainian top-5 player and Olympic bronze medalist
She refuses to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players on court as a stance on the conflict in Ukraine — a principled position that has sparked global debate.
Did You Know?How They Played
Svitolina is known for her exceptional defensive abilities and court coverage, often turning defense into attack with her powerful groundstrokes. She possesses a strong two-handed backhand and excellent footwork that allows her to retrieve difficult shots and extend rallies. Her mental toughness and tactical awareness make her particularly dangerous in longer matches.
Lasting Impact
Svitolina has been one of the most consistent performers on the WTA tour throughout the late 2010s and has helped raise the profile of Ukrainian tennis on the international stage.
Career Honours
- 20 WTA singles titles
- Olympic bronze medal (2020)
- career-high ranking No. 3
Ukrainian Athletes