Elina Svitolina’s Victory at ASB Classic
The pressure Elina Svitolina faced in the ASB Classic final stemmed from a familiar source—her husband, Gael Monfils. After triumphing over No. 7 Wang Xinyu with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (6), Svitolina remarked, “This was very special.” She shared that her husband had won the title the previous year and humorously added, “If you don’t win this year, I don’t know what to say.”
Motivation from Monfils
In a follow-up conversation with wtatennis.com, Svitolina elaborated on the encouragement from Monfils, who suggested that it would be incredible if they both secured the same tournament title. “I kept that in mind,” she admitted, acknowledging it spurred her on but also added some pressure.
History-Making Duo
With this win, both Svitolina and Monfils are now champions in Auckland. Monfils, currently ranked No. 64, is set to play against Fabian Marozsan in the first round, with No. 2 seed Casper Ruud waiting in the next round. At 39, Monfils has indicated that this will be his final season.
An Impressive Match
During the final, Svitolina dominated the first set in just 32 minutes but faced a tougher challenge in the second. She achieved seven aces against three double faults, winning 74% of her first serves. Notably, her last three serves in the tiebreak were unreturnable, contributing significantly to her victory.
Statistical Highlights
One crucial difference in the match was Svitolina’s ability to save all four break points she encountered. Although Wang was only broken once in the first set, it proved costly for her. Svitolina, who previously lost the 2024 final to Coco Gauff, is now 9-1 in Auckland and has secured her third title since becoming a mother.
Future Aspirations
After her victory, Svitolina climbed to No. 12 in the rankings, just outside the Top 10, a position she hasn’t held since 2021. She expresses her main goal of maintaining her health, emphasizing the importance of both mental and physical well-being as she aims to return to the Top 10.
Excitement for Upcoming Events
Looking ahead, Svitolina expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming Australian Open after securing the title in Auckland. “It’s nice to leave New Zealand with the trophy,” she said, noting her excitement about the tough matches to come in Melbourne.
