Elina Svitolina’s Wins and Struggles at the 2026 French Open
Ukraine’s top-ranked tennis player, Elina Svitolina, has shared her outlook on her prospects at the 2026 French Open. According to analytics from the Opta portal, her probability of winning the tournament stands at 1.33%. She entered the competition on the heels of a strong showing at the WTA 1000 in Rome, where she defeated opponents such as Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek. However, the start of Roland Garros proved to be extremely tough for her.
In her opening match at the French Open, Svitolina battled through three sets to defeat Hungary’s Anna Bondar. Her next opponent will be Kayla Quevedo, who is making her first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam event. Svitolina is currently enjoying her most successful season in eight years, having already claimed two trophies since the start of the year:
- WTA 500 in Auckland in January
- WTA 1000 in Rome
That victory marked the 20th title of her career.
Svitolina reflected on her chances: 'I don’t think about it too much. It seems like people talk about it a lot. Yes, I’m in good shape, but I believe there are players who are still bigger favorites than I am.'
She added: 'There are at least five players who I think have a better chance of winning this tournament. Personally, I was fully focused on the first round because it was a really big challenge for me. I just need to keep doing the hard work, focus on recovery, and stick to the game plan for the next round.'
An Emotional Moment with Gaël Monfils
After playing the final match of his career at Roland Garros, French tennis star Gaël Monfils turned to Elina Svitolina with heartfelt words: 'I want to thank my wife. Without her, I probably wouldn’t be here tonight. We’ve been together for eight wonderful years. You’ve supported me and loved me. You gave me the greatest gift—our daughter. I love you.'
During this speech, Svitolina couldn’t hold back her tears, highlighting the emotional significance of the moment for both players.
Svitolina’s early-season successes point to a resurgence after several challenging years, which could boost her chances for further achievements in upcoming tournaments. The emotional exchange with Monfils also underscores how crucial support systems are in sports, where personal life and career often intersect for athletes, adding either extra pressure or a source of inspiration.
As Svitolina navigates the challenges of the French Open, her impressive performance earlier this season, including matching Serena Williams' win total in Rome, highlights her resilience and skill. To explore how this achievement reflects her current form and impacts her chances in the tournament, read more about her journey in Rome.