Luciana Aranguiz
05/10/2020 - 20:04
Clarín.com
sports
For Nadia Podoroska, who made history for Argentine tennis on Sunday by entering the Roland Garros quarterfinals, a great challenge awaits her in Paris, where she will meet no less than a top 5:
Elina Svitolina
.
Who is the player who threatens to end a dream tournament of Rosario, whom he admitted not knowing?
Born in Odessa 26 years ago, the Ukrainian is ranked fifth, has won 15 titles in a decade as a professional and is one of the most dangerous rivals on the circuit on brick dust.
Although for those who do not follow the twists and turns of the women's circuit too much, she is surely best known for
her relationship with the Frenchman Gael Monfils
, with whom she forms one of the funniest couples on the circuit and shares an Instagram account where they post photos and curious videos.
“To be honest,
I have no idea who he is.
I heard her name, but I honestly don't know at all.
I watched a couple of games from her round of 16 match, because she played before me.
Frankly, I'm going to have to do my homework and find out a lot of information with my coach before this game.
But surely, if he got that far, it is because he is playing well, "said Svitolina on Sunday when he was asked to analyze Podoroska, against whom he will seek this Tuesday not before 7.15 (Argentine time) the pass to the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the third time.
The Ukrainian has been among the top 10 in the ranking for more than three seasons.
Photo Martin Bureau / AFP
The Ukrainian already reached that stage at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, which were her best all-time performances in this category.
Her good performance throughout 2019 - she reached the final of the end-of-year Masters, the semis also in Doha, Dubai and Indian Wells and made quarters at the Australian Open - allowed her to finish the season for the third time in a row among the best ten of the ranking.
Svitolina has been established in that elite group since February 2017 -after being crowned in Dubai- and even became number three in the world, her best location, on two occasions: in September of that 2017 and in November of last year.
Daughter of Mikhaylo, a former wrestler, and Olena, a former wrestler, the Ukrainian first picked up a racket at age five, following in the footsteps of her brother Yulian.
When she was 13, her family moved to Kharkiv, about 670 kilometers from her hometown, so little Elina could start training as a professional.
As a junior, her greatest achievement was the Roland Garros title in 2010. The following year she began her professional career and in 2013 she won her first WTA title in Baku, beating Israeli
Shahar Pe'er
in the final
.
Today accumulates 15 titles.
The most important, that of the end-of-the-year Women's Masters, which she won in 2018 with a victory against the American
Sloane Stephens
in the final.
Svitolina won her most important title in 2018, when she was crowned at the Women's Masters with a victory over Stephens.
AP Photo / Vincent Thian
Svitolina is one of the most complete players of her generation.
Although her best shot is her two-handed backhand, her serve and drive are also dangerous.
The weakest point in your game?
The definitions in the network, although he managed to improve that aspect in recent seasons.
And he also learned to move with much more ease throughout the court, perhaps inspired precisely by Monfils, known for
sliding
on the courts with unusual ease and for his ability to cover every corner of the playing field.
The Frenchman and the Ukrainian, who went public with their relationship early last year, seem to push themselves to bring out the best in each other in every tournament and every training.
"With Eli I am really happy. We have met and fully live our love. Going out with a tennis player is different; but we have the sport in common and that makes it easier for us to understand each other," Monfils said in an interview with the middle of last year.
Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, one of the funniest couples on the tennis circuit.
Instagram photo @gemslife
The 34-year-old world number nine experienced a career slump at the beginning of 2018, but today he is going through one of his best moments.
And as she assured, one of the reasons is Svitolina.
"I admire what she does, how she works, the mentality she has. I say that she trains too seriously for me, that is her way to improve. But it motivates me a lot to fill her with pride when I win. so she fills me with pride, "said Monfils.
The couple created an Instagram account in early 2019 in which they upload photos and videos of the moments they share.
"Gael and I have been very public about our relationship and that includes having an account. It's hard to get away when two players are famous. It's hard to keep things private and I think it's a waste of energy to hide things. So yes fans. they want to see something, we will show them and try to share. It is important not to shut down or make it feel like something uncomfortable, "said Svitolina.
See this post on Instagram
Challenge each other 🧩🧩
A shared post by (G) ael. (E) lina. (M). (S).
(@gemslife) Jan 30, 2020 at 11:46 am PST
The pair shows moments of their private life, training and competitions, especially when the calendars summon them to the same city.
And even very funny videos, in which they show why they are one of the most charismatic and outgoing couples on the circuit.
A couple of months ago they uploaded one that went viral, in which the Ukrainian is seen crashing balls against a canvas with an enviable precision so as not to hit the Frenchman, who checks his phone.
"I'm not feeling it today," Svitolina comments before starting to throw the balls.
"This is the mood on Mondays," Monfils closes, with a funny gesture.
"I love how he pushes me to improve. And I try to motivate him to be a better player and a better person. This is how it should work. We must support each other," Elina commented on Sunday, after beating France's
Caroline Garcia
in straight sets
for get into the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
See this post on Instagram
Monday mood😩😬🤪🧩🧩
A shared post by (G) ael. (E) lina. (M). (S).
(@gemslife) on Aug 17, 2020 at 4:54 am PDT
He also assured that, after the fall of his boyfriend in the first round against the Kazakh Andrey Bublik, in Paris he plays "for both".
"I know how much she loves to play in this tournament in front of her audience and how competitive it is. Unfortunately this year she couldn't perform at her best and it's sad. But I know she will come back even stronger. I want
With a dangerous game and the extra motivation to seek a victory that makes Monfils happy, Svitolina will now go against Podoroska -they will play this Tuesday, in the second turn of Philippe Chatrier- and will try to put an end to the rosarina's dream week in Paris .
FK