On a sun-drenched Sunday morning in Rome, Elina Svitolina stepped onto Center Court at the Italian Open, ready to write another chapter in her remarkable comeback story. The Ukrainian star, seeded No. 7 and currently ranked No. 10 in the world, faced a familiar foe: Hailey Baptiste, the American who had ousted her just two months prior in Miami. But this time, Svitolina was determined to flip the script—and she did so with authority.
Fresh off a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory over Italian qualifier Noemi Basiletti in her opening match, Svitolina looked physically sharp and mentally focused. It was a far cry from her early exit in Madrid two weeks earlier, when she suffered a surprise defeat to Anna Bondar and required a medical timeout for a nagging leg issue. "On May 10, 2026, Svitolina looked physically fine and won her opening match in Rome," reported Tennis World USA, putting to rest any lingering concerns about her fitness.
Svitolina’s journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary. After becoming a mother to daughter Skai, she navigated the tricky terrain of returning to elite tennis—a challenge faced by a growing cohort of top players. In early February, Svitolina and Belinda Bencic made history as the first two mothers to be ranked inside the Top 10 of the PIF WTA Rankings at the same time. The list of trailblazing moms also includes Naomi Osaka and doubles World No. 2 Taylor Townsend, with Tatjana Maria, a mother of two, capturing her first WTA 500 title last year at Queen's Club.
Balancing motherhood and a professional tennis career is no small feat. Svitolina often brings Skai on the road, but she’s mindful of her daughter’s need for stability and routine. "She goes to preschool and she has her friends, and with all the traveling that we do, we feel like it's really draining mentally," Svitolina shared at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. "And of course, you cannot have the same routines every single time. It's already tough for us. So for a child, it's of course not an easy task." The hardest part? "Being away from her and not sharing these little moments when she discovers something new. And every single day there is something funny or something new that she does."
Despite these challenges, Svitolina’s form on court has been electric in 2026. She kicked off her season with her 19th career title in Auckland, followed by a run to the Australian Open semifinals. In Melbourne, with Skai by her side, Svitolina notched straight-set wins over Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff, all while scouting playgrounds and parks to keep her daughter entertained. "She really loves Central Park because there are lots of things to do," Svitolina said, referencing her daughter's favorite spots during the US Open. "There are fountains, playgrounds. I think this would be her favorite."
On Sunday in Rome, all eyes were on the rematch with Baptiste. The American, now ranked No. 25 and firmly in the top 30, had clawed her way back from a 4-1 deficit in the final set against Simona Waltert in the previous round. Their head-to-head stood at one win apiece, with Baptiste’s Miami triumph still fresh in memory. But Svitolina, a two-time Italian Open champion (2017, 2018), was in no mood for déjà vu.
The match began with a tense service game at 1-1, where Svitolina had to stave off several break points. Once she weathered that storm, she took command, unleashing winners to every corner of the court. Not once did she drop her serve, a testament to her focus and tactical execution. In just 1 hour and 7 minutes, Svitolina wrapped up a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory—eerily reminiscent of her win over Baptiste at the same stage of the tournament exactly one year prior. What a turnaround from their marathon three-setter in 2025, which stretched over two and a half hours!
With the win, Svitolina now leads their rivalry 2-1. Her next challenge? A round-of-16 showdown with Czech lucky loser Nikola Bartunkova, who stunned Madison Keys 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in a gritty 1 hour and 48 minutes. Bartunkova’s upset adds another intriguing twist to a tournament already brimming with storylines.
For Svitolina, this run in Rome is about more than just chasing another trophy. It’s a testament to perseverance, adaptation, and the evolving landscape of women’s tennis. The WTA has recently introduced a Family Focus Program, offering ranking protection, paid maternity leave, and fertility grants to support players who choose to have children. "It's nice to have somebody else chasing the top of women's tennis," Svitolina said of her friendship with Bencic. "And I don't feel really the competition. I really feel a lot of respect for all the moms that are competing. Naomi and Taylor are doing an amazing job, and we're playing the same as we were playing when we were young -- or even better. I think it's good to have these cases for other sports, also, and for other moms in tennis. For people to believe that they can come back after having a child."
Svitolina is candid about the unique hurdles mothers face on the tour. "For me, it took a little bit more time," she explained, comparing her return to Bencic’s. "Practice ready is one thing -- match ready is very different, because your body is reacting differently, and the stress, as well. When you are 100 percent in the match and you give it your all, your body is sometimes not ready for this 100 percent. So you need to give yourself a little bit extra time for that. And also, don't put too high of expectations for yourself. Your body is going to be different. Your body will react differently on different things. You're not going to be the same like you were before, but it's going to be new. It's going to be a new energy, a new perspective, which is great."
Her advice to fellow athletes contemplating a comeback? Take it slow and manage expectations. The journey is as much about rediscovering oneself as it is about reclaiming a spot at the sport’s summit.
As the Italian Open continues, Svitolina’s resurgence stands as a beacon for mothers in sport and fans alike. With her blend of grit, grace, and perspective, she’s not just winning matches—she’s redefining what’s possible on and off the court. Next up: a date with Bartunkova, and a chance to keep her Roman revival rolling. Stay tuned, because if Svitolina’s recent form is any indication, there’s plenty more magic to come in the Eternal City.