Elina Svitolina advanced to the third round of the 2026 French Open after two tough wins at Roland Garros in Paris. On May 25, 2026, the 31-year-old Ukrainian defeated Anna Bondar 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) in a hard-fought first round match that included a late match point scare for Svitolina [1, 2]. She credited her mental strength and physical conditioning for pulling through the close contest, saying, "A first round like this puts you right on track. Mental strength took me over the line, as well as my physical condition" [1]. She added, "Definitely the support of you guys has been unbelievable, this kind of battle is never easy. It was an amazing match, I’m pleased with my performance" [1].
Two days later, on May 27, she beat Kaitlin Quevedo 6-0, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier to secure her place in the third round [3, 4]. Svitolina, the tournament's seventh seed, will next face Germany's Tamara Korpatsch for a place in the round of 16 [3, 4].
Svitolina has previously reached the quarter-finals of Roland Garros five times but has yet to advance past the last eight [3, 4]. Off the court, she is married to fellow French Open competitor Gael Monfils and said she plans to support him during his final campaign. "I will tell him to enjoy it. He always brings the best show," she said [1].
Svitolina's upcoming match against Korpatsch will determine if she can add another deep run to her French Open record.
