Film study helped Elina Svitolina snap her slide.
The two-time Roland Garros quarterfinalist scored her first clay-court win of the season in her Roland Garros opener sweeping Venus Williams, 6-3, 6-3, and sending the veteran American to her fourth French Open first-round loss in the last seven years.
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A leg injury she sustained during the Middle East swing in March limited Svitolina to 22 matches this season as she suffered opening-round exits in Miami, Madrid and Rome, where she was two-time defending champion.
The ninth-seeded Svitolina said she stayed positive watching sports documentaries to learn how other athletes have overcome adversity.
"It was important to don't let negative thoughts take over. And I think I watched lots of documentaries about the athletes, how they bounce back," Svitolina said. "And it's just the progress of overcoming challenges, and it's important to react the right way and find the things what is going to help you.
"Because everyone has their own way, and it's important to have your own way which going to help you to move forward and not get the negative thoughts on the way."
In her 82nd Grand Slam appearance, including her 22nd at Roland Garros, Williams, who played with a yellow sleeve wrapping an apparent right elbow strain, lacked the sting on her serve and consistency on her groundstrokes to truly trouble Svitolina.
The 24-year-old Ukrainian praised the 38-year-old Williams afterward saying she does not see herself playing the pro circuit when she's Venus' age.
"No. Definitely no," Svitolina said. "It takes lots of willpower, I think. It's amazing what she does and how she still keep going and still motivated to play. And, yeah, it's amazing.
"Even today, I was playing against her and thinking, you know, I'm not sure I will be here playing at that age. But she's a great player. Still can challenge, you know, everyone on tour."
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve