Elina Svitolina had to make a tough decision and pull out of the WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg due to "a little injury" she sustained while competing at the Rome Open.
Next week, the world No. 14 had been slated to make her fifth appearance at the French clay tournament. In her previous four appearances, the Ukrainian enjoyed big success, having won Strasbourg in 2020 and 2023.
So far this clay season, Svitolina has played in three tournaments and she made three good runs – she won Rouen and reached the Madrid Open semifinal before losing to Peyton Stearns earlier this week in the Rome quarterfinal.
Already playing 14 matches on the dirt this spring left a toll on the 30-year-old's body and she decided to skip one of the favorite tournaments to focus on recovering fully for the French Open.
Svitolina won't play the week before the French Open
"Hey everyone, just a little update to say that I have unfortunately had to withdraw from Strasbourg due to a little injury I picked up in Rome. You all know Strasbourg has a special place in my heart, it was the venue of my first WTA title as a Mummy and I just love to play here in front of the amazing crowds. I want to wish Denis and his team another fantastic event and I hope to be back in 2026. Now I will turn my focus to Roland Garros. Thank you all for your understanding," Svitolina said in a message posted on her Instagram Story.
In 2023 April, the Ukrainian tennis star launched her post-pregnancy comeback. A month and a half later, her first WTA victory as a mother came on the clay courts of Strasbourg. Last year, she didn't defend her title at the tournament after losing in the round-of-16.
For Svitolina, the main thing now is to recover from whatever she is dealing with and have a good chance at capping off her clay season with a strong French Open run.
