New mother Elina Svitolina receives warm welcome at Charleston Open

Elina Svitolina returned to the WTA tour at the 2023 Charleston Open after taking a year-long maternity leave. Her comeback was met with a warm and enthusiastic reception from fans present in the stadium.

Svitolina's last match was at the 2022 Miami Open, where she suffered a defeat to Great Britain's Heather Watson 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 in the first round. After taking 13 months of maternity leave, the 28-year-old accepted a main draw wildcard at the Charleston Open, where she faced a formidable opponent in the form of Yulia Putintseva.

The Volvo Car Stadium was filled with fans who warmly welcomed Elina Svitolina back with enthusiastic cheers and applause. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) shared the heartwarming video across their social media pages.

In a grueling first-round match that lasted two hours and 46 minutes, Elina Svitolina tasted defeat 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4 at the hands of Putintseva.

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"I had goosebumps" - Elina Svitolina on the warm reception she received on her return to court

Elina Svitolina at the 2021 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart

In a post-match interview with Tennis Channel, Elina Svitolina expressed her delight at the warm reception she received from the crowd upon her return to the court following her maternity leave at the Charleston Open.

She expressed gratitude for the support of the many fans who cheered her on during the challenging moments of the match.

"I had goosebumps. It was a really, really sweet atmosphere out there. It was so nice to see many people, and they were really cheering me on to push through some tough moments," Svitolina said. "It was not easy physically for me today, but in the end, I'm really happy with the way I played today. Now, I can see more clear what I need to improve to be better."

The former World No. 3 shared her insights on her game and her physical fitness. Although Svitolina expressed confidence in her style of play, she acknowledged the need to focus on improving her fitness in order to make a strong comeback and maintain a consistent performance on the court.

"I think I'm hitting the ball well. I just have to work more on my fitness. I think a few bits here and there are going to help me to keep the focus more consistently, to be there in the moment. I think a few things here and there are going to make a difference for me," she said.