Tennis Star Elina Svitolina Takes Break from Competition for Mental Health
Elina Svitolina announces sudden retirement from 2025 tennis season, citing emotional struggles and prioritizing mental health.
“Over the years, I've learned that this sport isn't about money, fame, or rankings - it's about being ready to...”
Elina Svitolina has decided to end her 2025 season prematurely, prioritizing her mental health and well-being. The Ukrainian tennis star, currently ranked 13th in the world, announced her decision on Instagram, revealing she's not in the right emotional space to continue competing. Svitolina emphasized that tennis isn't just about winning or rankings; it's about being ready to give your all, which she currently isn't.
Svitolina's Statement:
“I haven’t been feeling like myself lately. I’m not in the right emotional space, and I don’t feel ready to play, so I am therefore ending the season here. Over the years, I’ve learned that this sport isn’t about money, fame, or rankings—it’s about being ready to fight and to give your all. Right now, I’m simply not at the level mentally or emotionally to do that.”
Svitolina's decision comes after a heartbreaking loss at the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals, where Ukraine fell to eventual champions Italy. She expressed her disappointment, stating, “Yesterday's loss was absolutely heartbreaking.” Despite this setback, Svitolina is committed to prioritizing her mental health and returning to the court when she's ready.
World number 13 Elina Svitolina has announced that she will be ending her season early due to emotional struggles. The Ukrainian tennis player helped her country reach the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals, where she was beaten in three sets by Jasmine Paolini last week. Svitolina shared her decision on Instagram, citing her current emotional state as the reason for her early retirement from the season.
“I haven't been feeling like myself lately. I'm not in the right emotional space, and I don't feel ready to play, so I am therefore ending the season here,” Svitolina said. This decision comes after a challenging period for the player, who has been open about her struggles. Svitolina's health and well-being will be the priority as she takes time to recharge and focus on her mental health.
“Over the years, I've learned that this sport isn't about money, fame, or rankings - it's about being ready to fight and to give your all. Right now, I'm simply not at the level mentally or emotionally to do that.
“I'm giving myself the space I need to heal and recharge, instead of forcing it and when I step back on the court.”
Elina Svitolina revealed she faced a barrage of online abuse, including death threats, after her quarterfinal loss to Naomi Osaka at the Canadian Open. The Ukrainian tennis star blamed disgruntled bettors for the "shameful" behavior, sharing screenshots of the abusive messages on Instagram. Some of the messages referenced the ongoing war in Ukraine, with one particularly vile comment hoping Russia would "kill all you Ukrainians". Svitolina responded strongly, saying, "To all the bettors: I'm a mom before I'm an athlete. The way you talk to women - to mothers - is SHAMEFUL. If your moms saw your messages, they'd be disgusted". This incident highlights the growing issue of online abuse in tennis, with a recent report finding that angry gamblers were responsible for nearly half of all abuse directed at players on social media.
Elina Svitolina announces the end of her 2025 season in order to "heal and recharge"❤️ pic.twitter.com/NS5FcXua5R
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) September 23, 2025
Season Highlights and Challenges:
- Reached quarterfinals at Australian Open and French Open
- Won WTA 250 clay event in Rouen, France, in April
- Faced setbacks with early exits in Cincinnati and US Open
- Compiled a 35-14 record from 15 competitions
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