Elina Svitolina’s Remarkable Comeback: Inside the Ukrainian Star’s Latest Grand Slam Run

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina continues her impressive 2026 campaign at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, moving into the round of 16 after Paula Badosa retired with a lower-back injury while leading 4-1 in the first set. The two-time Dubai champion will next face former Olympic gold-medalist Belinda Bencic, a matchup that promises high-octane baseline rallies and significant ranking implications as Svitolina chases a 20th career title. The Dubai run follows Svitolina’s statement showing at the Australian Open, where she battled past Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur to reach her first Melbourne semifinal before falling to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. That performance catapulted the 31-year-old back into the Top 10 and underscored a renaissance that began last summer after a 13-month maternity hiatus. Svitolina credits motherhood for reshaping her perspective, admitting she feels “at peace” even without a Grand Slam on her résumé. “Since having Skaï, every win feels like a bonus,” she told reporters, adding that the new balance has freed her to swing more aggressively on court. The lighter mindset was evident in her off-season block in Monte Carlo, where she doubled down on explosive footwork drills and first-serve placement, weapons that have delivered a Tour-leading 82 % hold rate in 2026. Coach Raemon Sluiter believes the Ukrainian is “closer than ever” to a maiden major, pointing to her tour-best 17-4 record this year and a newly found ability to reset after tight momentum swings. Stat models back up the optimism: TennisViz projects Svitolina as the third-most likely champion in Dubai behind Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, thanks in part to a draw section devoid of top-five opposition until the semifinals. Off the court, Svitolina remains a vocal advocate for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, pledging a portion of her prize money to rebuilding youth sports facilities. With a growing global fan base, renewed confidence and an enticing clash against Bencic on the horizon, Elina Svitolina’s resurgence is no longer just a feel-good comeback story—it is an evolving threat to the WTA hierarchy and a headline trend tennis fans will want to follow in the weeks leading into Indian Wells and Miami.