Svitolina Opens Up: 'Difficult to Play' Amidst Ukraine's Challenges.

Tennis Wimbledon 2024

Posted 3 months ago

Svitolina Opens Up: 'Difficult to Play' Amidst Ukraine's Challenges.

Elina Svitolina expressed how challenging it was to concentrate on competing at Wimbledon following Russian attacks that resulted in 31 deaths and severe damage to a children's hospital in her native Ukraine.

Elina Svitolina, 29, was visibly emotional during an on-court interview after her victory over China's Wang Xinyu, which propelled her into the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Sporting a black ribbon on her white outfit in solidarity with the casualties of the recent attacks in Ukraine, Svitolina couldn't hide her distress over the devastating events unfolding in her homeland.

As a prominent figure in Ukrainian sports, the 2023 Wimbledon semi-finalist has consistently spoken out about the profound impact of the conflict on her country.

Reflecting on her 6-2 6-1 win, Svitolina bravely shared, "It was a good performance from my side, and it's a very difficult day today for Ukrainian people."

Her words were choked with emotion as tears welled up, drawing empathetic support from the crowd on court two.