Imagine being just 24 years old and having beaten Serena Williams on the tennis court. Pretty impressive, right? That’s the case for superstar player Elina Svitolina, whose journey to success has taken her from winning the Paris collection of games aged 15 to playing alongside the greats at London's biggest tennis events. But Svitolina’s incredible career trajectory hasn’t all been plain sailing. She’s experienced her fair share of setbacks along the way, from injuries to losses that have shaped her professional – and personal – growth. Here, the athlete reveals five key life lessons she’s learned from her sport.
With more high-profile female tennis players than ever before, Svitolina has taken the chance to rewrite the rules and play the game her own way. ‘I’ve had coaches tell me I have to play more traditionally, but I always try to do it my way,’ she says. ‘There are some rules that you have to follow, but others you can create for yourself. If you want to take your time, take your time. If you want to serve underarm, serve underarm – it isn’t written in the rule book. Create opportunities that work for you.’
Failures can often be a blessing in disguise. Despite battling a knee injury and numerous defeats on-court, Svitolina learned that it’s better to see setbacks as opportunities to learn. ‘That’s the good thing about tennis,’ she reveals. ‘You always have a new day and another tournament where you can play better and have another chance to triumph.’ It’s an important lesson that can be applied to everyday life, too. ‘I’m always looking for another opportunity to improve.’