Svitolina is refreshed after a mental health break and into Australian Open's 3rd round

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Fresh from a mental health break at the end of last year, Elina Svitolina is through to the third round at the Australian Open and feeling rejuvenated.

The 12th-seeded Svitolina, who lost in the quarterfinals here last year to eventual champion Madison Keys, beat Linda Klimovicova 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday and will next face No. 23 Diana Schnaider.

Her second win of the tournament was the morning after her husband Gael Monfils, a popular 39-year-old Frenchman, said his goodbye at Melbourne Park in his retirement year. She was courtside Tuesday when Monfils lost a first-round match to qualifier Dane Sweeny, ending his 20th Australian Open campaign.

The 31-year-old Svitolina, who has a three-year-old daughter named Skaï with Monfils, announced in late Septembe r that she was taking the rest of the year off.

A month earlier, the Ukrainian player had complained about hateful online abuse from frustrated gamblers after losing a match in Canada.

“It was more mental, I would say,” Svitolina said Wednesday, reflecting on the reasons she needed time out from the tennis tour. "Physical, of course, I mean, with the many months of playing high intensity, of course you get a little bit worn down.

“But I think mental, it was something that I was more, like, checked out a little bit. Sometimes you need a little bit to step back and try to stay away from it and just try to regroup and be, again, back with new energy.”

The break was ideal. She arrived at Melbourne Park last week after winning a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, her 19th WTA Tour title.

“I can see now that I’m more refreshed,” she said. “I’m ready to face difficult situations in the matches, and I think the matches that I had in Auckland and couple of here, when I face difficult situations, I’m ready to accept that sometimes things are not going your way, and you have to fight, you have to dig deep and try to find a way to win.”

Another motivating factor in her resurgence is to continue bringing attention to the people of Ukraine since the invasion by Russia.

“To try to represent our country in the right way,” she said. “And use our voices to bring the attention, to bring the help, and to not forget that, you know, we can use our voices to bring the help, to bring the attention to our homeland.”

Svitolina has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the world, and has reached semifinals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, as well as three quarterfinals at the Australian Open.

Predictably, most of her conversations with Monfils over the next day will center around Svitolina's next match on Friday against Schnaider.

“I mean, it’s difficult to escape and not talk about tennis because being both at such a high level and competing in the same tournament," she said.

“Of course tennis is always a part of our life right now, but the years go on and I’m not sure how it’s going to be after — I’m sure we’re going to enjoy it as a family.”

Gael Monfils of France reacts after a rally with Dane Sweeny of Australia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Linda Klimovicova of Poland reacts during her second round match against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine plays a forehand return to Linda Klimovicova of Poland during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine plays a backhand return to Linda Klimovicova of Poland during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

CHICAGO (AP) — The New York Mets acquired Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, filling a hole in center field.

New York sent infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor league pitcher Truman Pauley to Chicago for Robert, who has struggled with injuries and inconsistency since a stellar 2023 season.

The Mets had been looking for outfield help since they traded Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien. They were in the mix for Kyle Tucker before he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The trade was announced after New York finalized a $126 million, three-year contract with Bo Bichette, a two-time All-Star shortstop who is moving to third base with the Mets.

Robert hit a career-low .223 with 14 homers, 53 RBIs and a career-best 33 steals in 110 games last year. Despite the shaky performance, the White Sox picked up his $20 million option for 2026.

Robert's contract also has a $20 million club option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.

New York is looking to return to the playoffs after it faded to an 83-79 record last year. Popular slugger Pete Alonso and star closer Edwin Díaz departed in free agency, but the Mets signed closer Devin Williams, reliever Luke Weaver and infielder Jorge Polanco.

The 23-year-old Acuña hit .234 with eight RBIs and 16 steals in 95 games with New York last season. Acuña, who can play second base, third base and shortstop, was acquired by the Mets in a July 2023 trade with the Rangers for Max Scherzer.

Acuña joins a promising group of young position players that also includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central last year with a 60-102 record, a 19-game improvement from the previous season.

Pauley, 22, was a 12th-round pick in the 2025 amateur draft out of Harvard. He had no record and a 2.08 ERA in three starts with Class A St. Lucie last year.

Robert, who turns 29 in August, made his major league debut with Chicago in 2020, winning a Gold Glove and finishing second to Kyle Lewis in balloting for AL Rookie of the Year. He made the AL All-Star team in 2023, when he hit .264 with 38 homers, 80 RBIs and 20 steals in 145 games.

Robert got off to a tough start last year, batting .190 with nine homers, 35 RBIs and 93 strikeouts in his first 79 games. He was believed to be on the market ahead of the trade deadline, but the White Sox opted to keep the slumping slugger.

He was much better after the All-Star break, hitting .298 (34 for 114) with five homers and 18 RBIs in 31 games. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 27 with a left hamstring strain, ending his season.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

FILE -New York Mets' Luisangel Acuña (2) warms up before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sept. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)

FILE -Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. catches a fly ball for the out on Kansas City Royals' Mike Yastrzemski during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Aug. 15, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel), File)