By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday July 19, 2024
Elina Svitolina has parted ways with coach Raemon Sluiter after more than a year of a solid partnership that saw the Ukrainian return from maternity leave to take her place inside the Top-20 (currently she’s ranked No.30).
The 29-year-old former World No.3 broke the news on Friday with a post on social media.
“I just wanted to let you all know that Raemon Sluiter and I have decided to end our working relationship,” Svitolina wrote. “We have had a great run and Ray has helped me become a better player, in my opinion he is one of the best out there on either tour and I will always be grateful of what we achieved together through his and our hard work and efforts.”
Elina Svitolina parts ways with her coach Raemon Sluiter.
“He’s one of the best out there on either tour and I will always be grateful of what we achieved together through his and our hard work and efforts”
Thanks, Raemon 👏 pic.twitter.com/SM9LFkAHLF
— Ukrainian Tennis • BTU (@ukrtennis_eng) July 19, 2024
Sluiter became known for his work with Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens. He helped guide her into the Top-10 before her retirement in 2021. Sluiter was also helpful in getting Svitolina to add aggression to her game, which has been a key reason that she has been able to compete so effectively since returning to the WTA Tour last season.
Svitolina, a 17-time WTA titlist, missed a year from April 2022 to April 2023 while pregnant with her first child, Skai, who was born on October 15, 2022. The Ukrainian, who is married to French star Gael Monfils, was as high as 17 (in March and in May) in the rankings but dropped down to 30 this week.
Svitolina won the WTA’s comeback Player of the Year award in 2023, while Sluiter was a finalist for WTA Coach of the Year.
Svitolina has not settled on her next coach as of yet.