Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina gives a touching message after defeating Russia’s Anastasia Potapova at the Monterrey Open, Mexico, Tuesday (1/3/2022). Elina Svitolina won dominantly 6-2, 6-1 over Anastasia Potapova in the first round match of the WTA 250 tournament.
The 27-year-old Odessa tennis player had refused to play against his opponent. She did this because she thought the world tennis community did not support Ukraine enough and imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus. However, she eventually agreed to compete after world tennis authorities banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing under their names and flags.
After the match, Svitolina, who played wearing the blue and gold Ukrainian colors, expressed the meaning of the victory. “My mission is to unite the world tennis community and stand with Ukraine, to help Ukraine because what we have been through is very bad for all Ukrainians,” said the bronze medal winner at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. “That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m fighting for my country and using the platform and resources I have to try to get everyone to support Ukraine.”
Svitolina has stated that all the prize money she gets from the tournament will be donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. “For me, playing here, I don’t play for myself,” said Svitolina who kept hitting his chest throughout the match. “I am playing for my country, playing to help the Ukrainian army and people in need. All the victories I get will be very special.”
An even more touching story happened to Dayana Yastremska, a 21-year-old Ukrainian tennis player, who lay on the court after her win over Romania’s Ana Bogdan at the WTA 250 event in Lyon, France. The young tennis player and his younger brother spent two nights in an underground parking lot before their parents sent them by boat to Romania and finally to France.
“I’m happy to have won, but at the same time I’m very sad,” said Yastremska. “My heart remains in Ukraine, and my mind fights here. It is very difficult to concentrate and find balance.”
Tennis world bodies have also made statements condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The WTA and ATP tennis tournaments in Moscow in October have also been postponed.
The World Tennis Federation (ITF) imposed sanctions on the Russian Tennis Federation and the Belarus Tennis Federation and excluded both countries from participating in all ITF tournaments until further notice. The ITF also canceled all tournaments planned to be held in Russia and Belarus.
Russia is banned from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, but Russian players can participate in Grand Slam events and regular tournaments. Russia, featuring world number one Daniil Medvedev, won the Davis Cup in Madrid, Spain, in December 2021. Meanwhile, the Russian women’s team also won the Billie Jean King Cup in the Czech Republic in November 2021.
