Sporty, at the same time elegant and feminine - this is actually a description of the Lady Marine Chronometer watch model, but it fits perfectly with the brand’s ambassador Elina Svitolina.
The fourth racket of the world, it has been checking time for almost a year exclusively with Ulysse Nardin. We met with her on the eve of her performance at the Dubai Tennis Championship and talked about time, favorite places in Dubai and, oddly enough, boxing.
As the ambassador of a watch brand, your first question will be about time. How punctual are you? Do you, like many girls, allow yourself a sweet oversight "to be a little late"?
Very rarely! I travel a lot since childhood, therefore, from an early age, organized and punctual. When you live somewhere far from home, you don’t see a family for a long time, you simply have no other choice. Of course, it happens that I'm late, but only in some exceptional case. My life is very full, I have to do a lot, but I would also like to find time to relax, on myself. Therefore, it is important to do everything on time.
If you still manage to find time for yourself, what do you dedicate it to?
I don't manage to do it very often - tennis takes a lot of time, constant tournaments ... If there is an opportunity, I get out somewhere. It’s sometimes great to be distracted, put off a racket, forget about tennis for a while, just enjoy life, for example, while studying some new interesting place.
Can you name the last place you were delighted with?
Swiss mountains! I was at a ski resort. True, I don’t ski, but even hiking in the mountains is such a beauty, so impressive. I also visited the hot springs.
You don’t ski ... Is there any sport besides tennis that you like?
I like boxing! And I like to watch boxing matches, and do boxing. I like to watch how athletes fight, how they behave, present themselves as a person ... In Ukraine, this is popular now, we have many champions, Klitschko, for example, for many years he was my idol, my inspiration.
Tell us how your friendship with the Ulysse brand began. Nardin?
I have long been familiar with the brand, it is popular in Ukraine and Russia, it is often the sponsor of tournaments. I was born in Odessa, a city on the sea. And Ulysse Nardin is a brand directly linked to the sea. (Historically, the company is known as a manufacturer of marine timepieces, which were appreciated by sailors all over the world for their incredible accuracy. - Note ed.) It's great how all this intertwines - the story of the brand and my personal one. Sea, water is a part of me. I love spending time on the beach, it's like a magnet that constantly attracts me.
I know that you managed to visit Ulysse watch manufactory Nardin. What impressed you the most?
Yes, I was at the Ulysse Nardin manufactory in Switzerland - I visited such a place for the first time in my life. It was very interesting to look at the production process from the inside. I am sure many people do not even imagine this. I was shocked at how many details you need to put together to get one watch — it's such a difficult and painstaking job!
In the UAE you visit tournaments ... In addition to the court, if you are in Dubai, where do you go first?
To the fountains! Each time I reserve a table in a restaurant overlooking the fountains and admire it as enchanted. But in Dubai I am not only at tournaments. Sometimes I come to relax, I have several friends who live here. Even if, for example, I fly to Australia, I definitely make a stop in the Emirates.
Have you ever gone to the desert?
Not yet. I have not yet met this side of vacation in the Emirates, but I have plans for a trip to the desert. The truth is afraid of scorpions. I want to try a safari, maybe even this year will work out.
In which city would you like to live?
I recently moved to London, I really love this city, I like to spend time there. That was definitely a good decision. I spent a lot of time in Paris, and every time I return there, these are always special, pleasant memories. For me, this city is associated with an important step in my tennis career ... I don’t want to make any plans, but so far I’m happy with how things are going.
Returning to the conversation about watches - do you have a lot of them, or are there some loved ones?
I have several of them. For example, during the Australian Open, I wore Ulysse Nardin's Jade, a classic and feminine model. I also have a Marine Chronometer - in this watch sporty style is combined with classic elegance. Let's say for the official dinner I choose them. In total, I have four Ulysse Nardin models, and I change them depending on my mood and occasion - I love when I have a choice.
