Svitolina temporarily made her return to the top 20 earlier this year, but has since had more of a mixed season with a back injury clearly hampering the 30-year-old.
And now the former World No.3 has told Ukrainian reporters that she will not compete again until 2025, “I had a good season, I already finished it because I got injured. To finish this year in the top 30 is a good result, considering that I was injured more [of the time] this season.”
She continued, “The Olympics went well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring home a medal, but there were great victories. Did I manage to approach the Games at the peak of my form, given the injury? No, I didn’t manage to do so at the peak.
“I didn’t play as I wanted in the following tournaments because I was injured. I wanted more, I wanted to play better. Now I will treat my injuries. I hope that I can start my next season better.”
Svitolina had her best results this year at the aforementioned tournament in Auckland and at Wimbledon, where she reached the quarter-finals.
Although injuries seem to have played more of a part in Svitolina’s 2024 season, she also ended last year after the US Open due to fitness concerns.Inside the baseline…It definitely does not feel like Elina Svitolina has had such an electric season, but in fairness to the Ukrainian she has defended a lot of her ranking points and remains in the seeded places for Grand Slams. At this point in Svitolina’s career, managing the body for the biggest events is likely to be the priority and it is also important to note how many other things are going on in her life, given that she is balancing being a new mother and also coping with the mental toll of what her country is going through.
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