Ukraine's top tennis player Elina Svitolina has announced her withdrawal from the upcoming WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg, which begins on May 19. The world No. 14 cited an injury sustained during her recent Rome tournament appearance as the reason for her decision.
Despite the injury being described as minor, medical professionals have advised the 30-year-old Odessa native to rest ahead of the French Open. Svitolina expressed disappointment about missing the Strasbourg event, which holds significant personal importance to her career.
'I hope to return here in 2026, but for now I'll focus on preparing for Roland Garros,' Svitolina shared on her Instagram account.
The Strasbourg tournament has special meaning for the Ukrainian star, as it was there last year that she claimed her first title after returning to the professional tour.
Svitolina had been scheduled to face Denmark's Clara Tauson, currently ranked 23rd in the world, in the first round. According to Statbet analysts, Svitolina's recent form had made her one of the tournament favorites before this unfortunate withdrawal.
Prior to her injury, Svitolina demonstrated impressive form in Rome, advancing to the quarterfinals where she narrowly lost to American Payton Stearns in a hard-fought tiebreak. Her path to the quarterfinals included a commanding 6:4, 6:2 victory over American Danielle Collins, who had previously eliminated world No. 2 Iga Swiatek from the tournament.
This withdrawal comes shortly after another Ukrainian tennis star, Marta Kostyuk, unexpectedly pulled out of the doubles competition in Rome, where she had been competing alongside Romanian partner Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
