Love match: Svitolina, Monfils progress

ElinavSvitolina is the first Ukrainian to make the last four of the US Open. (AFP)

Elina Svitolina’s blossoming romance with Gael Monfils is propelling the couple’s deep runs at the US Open, and the Ukrainian urged the French star to keep pace after Tuesday’s quarterfinal victory.

Svitolina, who broke the psychological barrier of reaching a Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon in July, became the first Ukrainian to make the last four of the US Open with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Britain’s Johanna Konta.

Boyfriend Monfils, the 13th seed in the men’s draw, is through to a fourth quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows and will look to equal his best Slam run when he meets Italian Matteo Berrettini on Wednesday.

“We are pushing each other and we are now trying to join each other in the semifinals,” Svitolina said. “Now it’s time for him to step up his game!”

The pair set up a joint Instagram account, @g.e.m.s. life, which has close to 100,000 followers, after going public with their relationship at this year’s Australian Open.

Svitolina, 24, credits Monfils with helping raise her game as she looks to translate last year’s WTA Finals success in Singapore into a maiden Grand Slam singles triumph for Ukraine.

She is attempting to go one step further than compatriot Andrei Medvedev, who lost the men’s 1999 French Open final in five sets to Andre Agassi.

“I think hitting with him, it has definitely helped me to improve my reaction and my footwork, move really quickly,” Svitolina said of the impact Monfils has had.

“I think (I’m) more calm, if you want to describe it in few words. It’s more calm and I talk more now with my coach. I’m more open with my coach and also with, you know, with Gael about the tennis and my feelings. This really changed, I think, for the past, I don’t know, nine, 10 months.”

Monfils watched from Svitolina’s players box as she faced Simona Halep at Wimbledon, although she was blown away by the eventual champion in her first major semifinal after four losing quarterfinal appearances at other Slams.

He’s there for me, he’s supporting me, and I’m there for him as well,” she said during her run at the All England Club. “He understands, I understand, what we’re going through. It’s great.”

Svitolina will have another chance Thursday to reach her first Grand Slam final, and she believes lessons learned from past failures have prepared her to take the next step.

“I had some tough matches round of 16, quarter-finals before I started to win them. I think it’s been tough and painful losses sometimes, but I think they gave me this push, this confidence and maybe helped me in some matches,” Svitolina said.

“I don’t think that I was expecting going into this tournament that I’m going to make semis. I’m just taking one match at a time.

“It’s a Grand Slam. There is lots of pressure. You have to just go out there, do your job and don’t think too much what’s going on around you, and who handles it the best wins.”

Svitolina, set to climb to at least third in the WTA rankings after her performance here, could next face Serena Williams, who is seeking a 24th Grand Slam crown to equal the all-time record held by Australia’s Margaret Court.

“Definitely it’s a big challenge to play against her. I mean, doesn’t really matter who I’m going to play in semifinal. It’s a challenge,” Svitolina said.

“Person who reaches the semifinal is playing well. It’s something that you have to bring your best game to beat them.”