Elina Svitolina secured the Italian Open title last week by defeating Coco Gauff in the final, marking a significant victory on red clay before the French Open begins this Sunday, May 28, 2026 [1, 2]. En route to the Rome championship, the 31-year-old Ukrainian player also overcame world number two Elena Rybakina and third-ranked Iga Swiatek [1, 2]. Currently ranked seventh worldwide, Svitolina has built momentum heading into Roland Garros where she opens against Hungary’s Anna Bondar in the first round [1, 2].
Svitolina took a maternity break in 2022 after the birth of her daughter with fellow tennis player Gael Monfils, returning to professional tennis with renewed focus and resilience [1, 2]. Despite strong performances at other Grand Slam tournaments, the French Open remains the only major where she has yet to advance beyond the quarterfinals, adding an extra challenge to her upcoming campaign [1, 2].
The Ukrainian emphasized her mental approach ahead of the tournament, stating, "It's all about trying to focus on my game, my performance, not going too far with the thoughts about if I can win the title or not" [1]. She stressed the importance of taking matches one at a time and maintaining readiness, saying, "There's still lots of matches to win to get that title, and you need to be fit and mentally ready... focus on the first round, one match at a time, and be ready for anything that comes my way" [2].
Svitolina also expressed acceptance of any outcome, valuing her mental well-being over titles. "It's okay if I don't win a slam. It's also fine, in a way, because if you're not okay with that I think you can just eat yourself from inside and all the time not be happy about what you do on the court," she said [1]. She added, "I think my career, even if I finish tomorrow, is okay. And if something happens, I'll be fine with that and I'll still be a happy person and live my life good" [2]. Nevertheless, she remains hopeful about achieving a Grand Slam, saying, "I still believe I can win a Grand Slam but I'm also fine if it's not going to happen or if it's not on the cards for me" [1].
The French Open begins on May 28, with Svitolina’s first match scheduled against Anna Bondar, marking the start of what she aims to be a focused and balanced campaign at Roland Garros [1, 2].