Jabeur, Badosa and fans in Charleston and beyond welcome Elina Svitolina back

CHARLESTON, S.C.—Elina Svitolina lost her comeback match on Monday, and she isn't thrilled with Wimbledon's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete at The Championships this summer.

Despite that, the 28-year-old Ukrainian managed a smile and looked forward, as you'd expect from a former world No. 3:

"It's time to get back on court and kick some ass," she told Tennis Channel.

Svitolina's return to the tour, less than six months after the birth of her and Gael Monfils' baby, Skaï, was a throwback performance in many ways. On the first day of main-draw play at the Charleston Open, she drew the most attention inside Credit One Stadium. She fought Yulia Putintseva tooth and nail, taking the first set in a tiebreak and taking her Kazakh opponent deep in a decider. Her shotmaking and zest for the battle was evident, even after a year away from WTA competition.

Putintseva ultimately outdid Svitolina, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4, on the strength of greater consistency and two outstanding drop shots—which Svitolina did well in nearly tracking down. But while the result didn't go her way, it nonetheless felt like a victory.

"I had goosebumps," Svitolina told Steve Weismann on overcast day in the Lowcountry. "It was a really, really sweet atmosphere out there. It was so nice to see many people cheering me on, push me through some tough moments, because it was not easy physically today.

"In the end, I'm really happy with the way I played, today, and now I can see more clear what I need to improve to be better."

It wasn't just the fans happy to see Svitolina. A favorite in the locker room, Elina elicited plenty of positive response from fellow players asked about her return.

"It's so nice to have her back," Paula Badosa told me earlier today. "She's always been an inspiration for me. She's been a warrior on court, a fighter—I really like these kinds of players. And now after being a mom, I mean, I think that's very inspirational. It's nice to have a mother back inside with the best players in the world again."

She's been a warrior on court, a fighter—I really like these kinds of players. And now after being a mom, I mean, I think that's very inspirational. Paula Badosa

"It was very nice catching up with her. I'm happy for her—I just called her the new mom on tour," Ons Jabeur told me after Badosa. "If she's very patient, I hope she can come back at her level. She's an amazing player; we also played juniors together. It's very nice to see her."

Tuesday will be about Badosa—who opens play in the stadium—and Jabeur, who closes out the schedule. With Madison Keys, Leylah Fernandez and Victoria Azarenka playing in between, it's a loaded day of action. But Monday was Svitolina's day, even if her two biggest fans were far, far away in Europe.

And, if one of those fans was (thankfully, for the new parents) fast asleep.

"She's more looking like me, and she's really, really quiet—not the same as Gael," a beaming Svitolina said of Skaï. "The only thing she has is the small ears, like Gael."