LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine claims that becoming an honorary Frenchwoman has made her feel “17 again” in advance of her politically sensitive quarterfinal match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at Roland Garros.
The 28-year-old, who is married to French tennis showman Gael Monfils, is competing in her first Grand Slam after giving birth. She has advanced to the final eight in Paris four times.
That’s in spite of only joining the tour again in April after taking a year off from competing while caring for the couple’s daughter Skai.
Svitolina has become the crowd’s new favorite after none of the 28 French singles competitors in the main draw advanced past the second round this year.
“People were cheering me on and it was getting more and more, and was really, really special. I didn’t expect that,” she said.
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“I have been with Gael for over five years but I didn’t expect that it would come like this year.”
The former No. 3 in the world, Svitolina, is currently ranked 192, but she is still permitted to compete in the French Open because of a protected status.
She overcame being down a set in both the second and third rounds to fight her way into the quarterfinals.
Svitolina was considered a lock to win a Grand Slam title because of her 17 victories and more than $21 million in prize money.
