Elina Svitolina and Beatriz Haddad Maia have made the significant decision to shut down their 2025 campaigns, announcing on social media this week that they will not compete for the remainder of the season. This choice comes as both players prioritize their health and well-being, focusing on rest and recovery.
Svitolina and Haddad Maia: A Year of Challenges and Triumphs
Svitolina, currently ranked No. 13 in the world, expressed that she hasn’t felt emotionally prepared to compete at her best. The Ukrainian athlete had a commendable year, finishing with a record of 35 wins and 14 losses. She celebrated a title at the WTA 250 event in Rouen on clay in April and made it to the quarterfinals at prestigious tournaments like the Australian Open and Roland Garros. However, as the season progressed into the North American hard courts, her performance began to decline. After reaching the quarterfinals in Montreal, Svitolina faced early exits in Cincinnati and the US Open. Recently, she made a significant contribution to the Ukrainian team by helping them reach the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals with a victory against Paula Badosa, although she experienced a narrow defeat against Jasmine Paolini of Italy.
On the other hand, Beatriz Haddad Maia also cited the necessity for an extended break to reset both physically and mentally. The 29-year-old Brazilian concludes her season at No. 40 after a challenging year in singles, posting a record of 16 wins and 26 losses. Her struggles included a challenging stretch of nine consecutive losses between January and April, with two of those defeats occurring during the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying rounds. Despite these setbacks, she demonstrated resilience at the US Open, where she advanced to the fourth round before being defeated by the eventual finalist, Amanda Anisimova. Most recently, Haddad Maia lost in the second round in Seoul to qualifier Ella Seidel. Fortunately, her doubles performance has been much more successful, boasting a commendable record of 23 wins and 11 losses, including a title in Nottingham alongside partner Laura Siegemund.
Both Svitolina and Haddad Maia’s decisions to pause their seasons reflect the increasing awareness of the importance of mental and physical health in professional sports. As they step back to recharge, fans will eagerly await their return to the court, hopeful for renewed vigor and performance in the next season.