Tennis player Elina Svitolina, 28, of Ukraine, has been outspoken about her support for her nation throughout the war there and has shunned Russian and Belarusian competitors.
In the Wimbledon semifinals, she will meet Czech player Marketa Vondrousova who wants to deliver another SW19 triumph. Former world number three Svitolina, whose progress at Wimbledon comes just nine months after giving birth to her baby, has been nicknamed a “superwoman” for her SW19 run.
Wimbledon Final
Four past Grand Slam champions, including Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Victoria Azarenka, and first seed and current world number one Iga Swiatek, were defeated by Svitolina during her unstoppable Wimbledon run.
In April, she participated in the women’s tour once more, and she gave her prize money to Ukrainian children in need. Svitolina talked about how the conflict has made her mentally tougher and stronger after her thrilling victory over Swiatek, referring to Russia’s invasion of her country.
- Elina Svitolina, a Ukrainian tennis player, supports Ukraine during the war.
- Svitolina donates prize money to Ukrainian children, highlighting mental toughness after conflict.
- Svitolina praised Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy as leader before French Open.
Before the French Open this year, where she advanced to the last eight, she likewise refused to shake hands with Belarusians and Russians.
Before this year’s French Open, where she advanced to the last eight, Svitolina likewise declined to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian rivals. She described Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, as a “true leader of our nation.”
In the summer of 2021, Svitolina wed the French tennis star Gael Monfils, and their daughter Skai was born only eight months later. She owns a residence in Odessa as well as a home in London close to Wimbledon.
Svitolina’s mother, brother, and father—all of whom are qualified tennis coaches—come from a family of former wrestlers. To support budding tennis players, she founded the Elina Svitolina Foundation in 2019.
As a result of the ongoing crisis, she is now helping Ukrainian refugees. Svitolina admitted that she had to forgo tickets to a Harry Styles concert because of her Wimbledon run after defeating Azarenka.
