MELBOURNE : Elina Svitolina said the decision to take a mental health break at the end of last season has played a key role in her run to a first Australian Open semi-final.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian swept aside French Open champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2 in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, ending the American third seed’s bid for a third Grand Slam title.
Seeded 12th, Svitolina reached the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time after three previous quarter-final exits, keeping alive her hopes of winning a maiden major.
“It was a difficult decision on one hand, but then I spoke with my team and family,” Svitolina told reporters. “If I had kept pushing last year, I think I would not start here. I would be exhausted and not even sure I would be injury-free.
“So for me it was important to step back, and I’m very happy that I did that. Of course now it’s easy to say because the results have been great, but I still think it’s something that helped me.”
Svitolina won the Auckland Open earlier this month, claiming her 19th WTA title, after cutting short her 2025 season to focus on her mental well-being.
Asked whether she had surprised herself with how quickly she found form again, Svitolina said freshness had been crucial.
“I tried to trust myself,” she said. “When I’m fresh, when I’m mentally ready to face difficult situations, then I can play well.”
Svitolina will next face Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka, against whom she has a 1-5 record.
“It’s no secret she’s a very powerful player,” Svitolina said. “The power in all parts of her game is her strength. She’s been very consistent over the past years, and I’ll have to be ready for that and try to find the little opportunities in her game.”
