“It’s become harder to manage”: Injury forces Elina Svitolina to end 2024 season after foot surgery

Elina Svitolina has undergone surgery and is ending her 2024 season as she deals with ongoing foot problems. The former world No. 3 took advantage of the end of the last Grand Slam of the year at the US Open to go into surgery and will take the rest of the year off for recovery.

The Ukrainian has been struggling with the injury since her return to the court after maternity leave. Svitolina returned to the Tour in April 2023 with strong performances, but ankle pain prevented her from playing in tournaments after the US Open. This year, the same issue has reappeared, and the 30-year-old player hopes to leave her physical problems behind this time.

Svitolina’s 2023 comeback was remarkable, moving from world No. 1344 to No. 25 by the end of the year in just a handful of tournaments (17-9 record). She won the Strasbourg Open less than two months after her return and reached the French Open quarterfinals. Later, at Wimbledon, she advanced to the semifinals, including a victory over world No. 1 Iga Świątek in the quarterfinals.

This year, Svitolina has managed to stay in the top 30 and is one of five top-30 players over the age of 30. In her last appearance at Flushing Meadows, she reached the third round but lost to defending champion Coco Gauff 6-3, 3-6, 3-6.

The four-time WTA 1000 champion surprised her fans today by announcing on social media that she had undergone surgery and would not return to competition until next year. "Hey everyone. So unfortunately my 2024 season is now in the history books, as I have had surgery on my foot today to correct a long-standing issue that I have been trying to manage throughout this year,” she captioned in a series of post-surgery Instagram photos, which also featured her husband, Gael Monfils.

“This is the same issue that ended my season in 2023 and has hampered me for most of 2024. It’s become harder to manage and has been impacting me more and more, not just with regard to tennis and training but in my everyday life too," Svitolina added.

"BUT NOW… I am excited for the opportunity to focus on my recovery and come back even stronger than before. I am determined to do whatever it takes to get back on the court and compete at the highest level,” Svitolina continued. “I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement during this challenging time. Your love and positivity mean the world to me, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the courts in 2025."