“Elina spoke before starting at the US Open Championship 2025”, – WRITE: Sport.ua
– Elina, the last two US Open were not very successful for you, as for the high strip of your results at the Maidors. In addition, after them you had to complete the season because of various health problems. What mood did you come to New York this year?
-I really don’t have very good memories of the last two seasons when I played in New York, because there were big problems with my foot. Now, I am glad that this problem does not exist, that last year’s operation has corrected everything.
In general, I feel good, though in fact you are almost never feeling well before Grand Slam, because there are both nerves and pressure from different sides. But this is normal and I’m used to this condition. Every day I try to work on different game elements. I have a few more days before the first match and there is time to prepare physically, set myself. So, in general, readiness is normal.
– Where was your preparation for US Open after early lesion in Cincinnat?
– Yes, unfortunately, I had an early defeat in Cincinnat, but on the other hand, I had time to recover. Since now the Tensniki are two weeks and there is a little more time, I decided that it would be good for mental health and physical health, to go home and relax and train a little. For me, this is better than I would be in Cincinnat, where nothing happens and the tournament itself is playing very far from any civilization.
– You have already conducted a few training on USO courts and even played an exhibition match. Is the coverage and game conditions different this year or maybe balls from recent years?
– There are small changes, I do not know how to cover and balls, but I play this year with another racket, not that in the past seasons. But to be honest, I try not to think about it and work with what is. I try to adjust to different stadiums as best as possible, different courts – everyone has its own peculiarities, so you need to adapt constantly.
– In the first round, you will have to play against Anna Bondar, which you have already won this year with Rolan Harros and Wimbledon. There will be no secrets in Hardy?
– So we have already played twice on various coatings – both faster and slower. I look more at our match on Rolan Harros because there was such a good match and could see its strengths.
It can serve well, can keep the pace on the back, knows how to twist the ball well, the left plays a flatter – so I’m getting ready for her style of the game. We have spoken with the trainer the tactical moments I should use during the match. I hope that the two victories I won against her this year will help me to be more confident, ”Svitolina said.