This success is not only sporting: it symbolizes a unique trajectory, shaped by the war in Ukraine and the birth of his daughter. Since Russia’s invasion of her country in February 2022, Gäël Monfils’ wife has often spoken about the profound impact of this conflict on her life and her tennis: “The war made me stronger, it taught me to take a step back. There are much worse things than losing a point, a match.”she confided, referring to the way in which these events redefine the priorities of an athlete and a mother.
The Ukrainian Svitolina on the subject of the Belarusian Sabalenka who was waiting at the net to shake her hand: “My position is however very clear”
Marked by her motherhood – her daughter Skaï was born in October 2022 – the former double semi-finalist at Wimbledon (2019 and 2023) made a choice that is less and less rare in high-level sport: putting her career on pause and then coming back. But the player now seems more complete. She herself admitted that becoming a mother had transformed her: “I am more serene, more philosophical in the face of challenges, less obsessed by raw results than by the very essence of the game.” This human experience gave her new strength, a balance that she had perhaps never known before, and which shows through in her tennis today.
The birth of her daughter gave her a new balance.
Back on the circuit after a four-month break between September 2025 and January 2026 to protect herself mentally and physically, the Odessa native showed up in Melbourne looking dazzlingly fresh. After winning the title in Auckland at the start of the year, she has just scored ten victories. The one who had a panther tattoo engraved on her body to symbolize strength and intelligence proved that she was no longer just a fighter but a serious candidate for the final of a Grand Slam.
“A saving break”
Following her victory over Gauff, Svitolina delivered these strong words: “If I hadn’t stopped, I probably wouldn’t be here today. This return to the top 10 was a dream for me, I knew it would take time, but I never stopped believing in it.”
The success of academics at the ATP and WTA…
For the Ukrainian, history is much more than a series of results: it is a demonstration of resilience. Between sleepless nights spent following the news from her country and training between two bottles, she was able to draw a source of motivation from each experience. Today, she embodies a model of determination and a symbol of hope for Ukraine, carried by the affection of her compatriots and numerous supporters around the globe.
Facing her in the semi-final, the world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, will stand as a major obstacle. But Svitolina does not intend to stop there. His road to a first Grand Slam final is open, carried by a story that goes beyond the simple lines of sport.
