"I’ll have to speak with my coach about the plan I need to execute": Svitolina prepares for her high-stakes quarterfinal clash with Coco Gauff

Elina Svitolina delivered perhaps the biggest blow of the fourth round at the Australian Open so far, defeating 8th seed Mirra Andreeva in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. The 31-year-old Ukrainian reaches the Aussie Open quarterfinals for the second consecutive year and continues to strengthen her Grand Slam consistency.

“Yeah, it feels great. Another chance to play, maybe in the semi-final. I’m very happy with the match and with my performance tonight,” commented the former world No. 3 in press conference. “I think I played well and executed the plan, so I’m very pleased with how I performed.”

“It was important for me to put pressure on her. If I let her take the advantage in rallies, she can strike the ball really well—she knows how to win matches and tournaments. For me, it was important to take the advantage first and find a way. She’s a tricky player, mixing up pace and ball length, so you have to adjust quickly and make split-second decisions to go for it or place the ball correctly.”

The next challenge will again be against one of the tournament favorites: world No. 3 Coco Gauff, who survived a tight match against Karolina Muchova, winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. This will be the fourth meeting between Gauff and Svitolina, with the American leading the head-to-head 2-1. The Ukrainian will have two days to prepare for her next match.

“I’ll have to speak with my coach about the plan I need to execute,” the four-time WTA 1000 champion said. “We’ve had some tough matches, tough battles. Maybe the last two were three-setters. I remember we played in the Auckland final a couple of years back, and also at the US Open. We both know each other’s game. For me, it’s important to work on a few things tomorrow, speak with my coach, and be ready for the extreme heat. I think we’ll not only be playing against each other but also against the conditions.”

It was a chance for revenge for Svitolina, who had lost in straight sets to Andreeva last year at Indian Wells. The Ukrainian overcame the difficult heat against a player 13 years her junior and continues to go through the tournament without dropping a set. For Svitolina, the heat is not a major concern.

“Well, I wasn’t really thinking about that. I tried to prepare for this match tonight, and someone told me a few days ago that on Tuesday it will be hot, so I’ll have to prepare,” Svitolina mentioned. “I think preparation really starts tomorrow, with hydration and just trying to stay in calmer conditions"

"I think it’s important to be prepared as much as possible, but we’re both going to be in the same conditions. It’s important to take tomorrow to rest and be ready for the extreme heat.”

Even without knowing the schedule for her quarterfinal, Svitolina said that ideally, she prefers to play in the evening. “Of course, it’s nicer to play later in the day. But I don’t have a say on the scheduling. I think there might be one day match and one night match,” she commented. “I don’t know how it goes, but yes, it’s better to play in the evening. It’s much nicer, though the ball is still flying quite a bit because of the heat. But yes, it’s going to be fine either way.”

The Ukrainian can already boast her 14th Grand Slam quarterfinal—a feat she has achieved in 10 of the last 12 seasons since first doing so at Roland Garros 2015. In 13 quarterfinal appearances, she reached the semifinals three times but has never made a final.

This time, she hopes to reach the last four of a major for the fourth time in her career. “Of course, it would mean a lot, but I don’t want to think too much about it. It’s another opportunity for me to go far in the tournament. I want to focus on my recovery and on the game plan I need to execute well. Right now, that’s my priority. If I play well and do things right, I can have a chance to win the next match.”

Svitolina has maintained her relevance on the Tour for over a decade, with a total of 19 career titles and 11 seasons finishing inside the top-30—including four consecutive seasons in the top-6. After returning from a one-year career break due to her pregnancy, the former No. 3 quickly climbed back into the rankings and became a contender at the most important tournaments.

The Ukrainian maintains impeccable confidence and continues to seek ways to improve her game to remain competitive against younger rivals. “We had a good pre-season and worked on a few things, including tactical improvements,” she said. “It was important for me to analyze what I did well in 2025 and see how I can improve.

"We also looked at statistics to see where I can improve in my serve, return, and overall game. That really opened my eyes, and I worked on those things. So far, it’s working. The year is long, so I have to keep going. Staying fit remains the priority," the world no. 12 concluded.