On Monday, Elina Svitolina's victory at Wimbledon was overshadowed by the anguish she felt for her homeland, Ukraine, after a Russian airstrike devastated a children's hospital in Kyiv.
Svitolina's 6-2, 6-1 triumph over China's Wang Xinyu propelled her into the quarter-finals, where she will face 2022 champion Elena Rybakina. However, the result paled in comparison to the turmoil churning within the Ukrainian player's heart.
During her on-court interview, Svitolina's emotions erupted, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to articulate the pain inflicted upon her country. It's a difficult day for Ukrainian people, she uttered, her voice trembling.
The Odesa-born player confided in reporters that she had contemplated withdrawing from the tournament, seeking solace in the privacy of her room to grapple with her emotions. When you have these sad days where you don't want to do anything, it was this kind of day for me, Svitolina confessed.
It's difficult really to explain, I guess, because for us Ukrainians, it's very close to our heart and a very sensitive topic, very sensitive emotions that we feel every single day. But today was one of the days where it was even more difficult because the missile landed on the kids' hospital. Straightaway you see images and everything that happened.
The Russian attack, which also targeted other cities across Ukraine, claimed the lives of at least 36 civilians, marking the deadliest wave of air strikes in months. The Russian Defence Ministry maintained that its forces had targeted defense industry targets and aviation bases, while steadfastly denying any intention to harm civilians or civilian infrastructure.
Svitolina, the 21st seed who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, wore a black ribbon pinned to her white top as a somber symbol of mourning. It's been approved by Wimbledon today, she informed reporters, acknowledging that she still had family residing in Ukraine. I feel it would be understandable after such a big attack on my country.
Despite the overwhelming grief, Svitolina drew upon an inner strength, determined to honor her country and raise awareness about the ongoing war. I'm playing such an amazing event ... I have to think about how I can use that in a way for Ukrainian people, she asserted.
My win today, it was a small light that brought a happy moment for Ukrainian people. I got so many messages. The people are thankful for my performance. It brings me a lot of, let's say, joy in a way on this sad day.
Wimbledon's decision to lift its ban on Russian and Belarusian players, allowing them to participate as neutral athletes, had drawn mixed reactions. Svitolina expressed her preference for a return to the policy implemented in 2022, following the Russian invasion.
For now, I want to raise awareness, raise funds for people in need and raise support for kids through my foundation, she declared, outlining her unwavering commitment to aiding her beleaguered homeland.
