“Strasbourg? I needed to practice playing”

Today Elina Svitolina beat Varvara Gracheva in the first round of Roland Garros in two sets. The Ukrainian shared her impressions of the start of the French Open:

“For the first time in many years, I played the WTA on the eve of the Grand Slam. I generally don’t play in competitions against the majors. In Strasbourg I played good games, they definitely gave me confidence in my abilities, that I can play well, move better.

I played only a few games in Rome. That’s why I wanted to improve my clay game precisely in matches, because before that I had been practicing for a month and a half. He needed to practice the game. As a result, this week in Strasbourg was very positive for me.

The conditions here and in Strasbourg, if we take the last two games against Sobolenko and Rybakina, are practically the same, just different courts. Before that, of course, there was a big difference, because it was much hotter, the balls bounced faster and were faster in flight.

I don’t agree that Wilson’s new balls are bad. To be honest, I have a different opinion. These balls are good enough. When we played with Babolat balls it was even worse, more difficult. I felt it especially when I played with Serena Williams at Roland Garros, when due to bad weather I was waiting for our match for four days … The ball then was simply incredible, it was impossible to even interrupt it a couple of times, I had to hit only with all my forces, but he did not reach the half court either.

We trained with “Wilson” balls for a month and a half, it was very hot and the balls flew very well. I think it is precisely the weather conditions and the surface itself, because we have never played here in such a cold period.

As for my next game, I know that Renata Sarazua is Mexican, that it is qualifying. I know she’s short because I saw her in the dressing room. I’ll see a little video of how it plays. Recently, I have met tennis players who have just appeared on Tour, Gracheva, Rybakin, so I need to prepare for these matches a little differently.