Elina Svitolina is ready to seize and take her opportunity as she searches for her first grand slam at the Australian Open.
The Ukrainian has had a turbulent 12 months after reaching the quarter-finals at last year’s Australian Open, before having fairly disappointing grand slam results.
Despite this, Svitolina’s breakthrough came at the WTA Finals in Singapore when she produced five mentally strong performance to win the title.
Now her sights are set on a maiden grand slam title and Svitolina is ready to seize the opportunity, “I had some tough matches last year in a Grand Slams,” Svitolina explained in her press conference
“Which I had to win, but I didn’t go through. I didn’t execute well. That’s why it’s about making chances and then taking them.”
Although Singapore was a great week for Svitolina she remains disciplined and hopes to be more positive in 2019 in the key moments, “I always try to keep positive,” she said.
“Of course, I want to play better the Grand Slams, but I try to do something different. I try to add something to my game or to my preparation that will help me. But each Grand Slam has a different deal.
“I played great in the end of the season. The main goal for me is to be No.1 and win a Grand Slam. But I don’t think so much about it, don’t have this pressure because everyone is fighting for the same thing. There is enough pressure that’s put on us.”
Unlike last year where she won the Brisbane title, Svitolina enters the Australian Open with an early exit in Brisbane to Aliaksandra Sasnovich but insists that match won’t affect her, “It’s been one week and a half that I’ve been here. Had good practice and I feel ready,” the 24 year old explained.
“There will be lots of tough matches, so that’s why I have to just stay positive and be ready for what the tournament holds for me.”
In another women’s tournament that looks unpredictable, can Svitolina seize her opportunity in a loaded draw? She begins her campaign against Swiss qualifier Viktorija Golubic on Tuesday.