Google News Elina Svitolina shares message from Ukrainian soldiers that made her heart feel warm
by DZEVAD MESIC
Elina Svitolina says it is "really heartwarming" and to know that Ukrainian soldiers followed her French Open and Wimbledon runs and that she brought them a certain joy during the darkest days of Ukraine. Svitolina, the top-ranked Ukrainian female tennis player, made the French Open quarterfinal in her first Grand Slam tournament back before also reaching the Wimbledon semifinal in July.
After Wimbledon, Svitolina visited Ukraine and returned to her hometown Odesa. During her visit to Ukraine, Svitolina met with soldiers in training. “This is really heartwarming. I have goosebumps. I know each match I am playing, I am going out feeling like it is my own battle that I have, not only to bring the happiness and different headlines, but continually remind people we still need help for kids, schools," Svitolina told Forbes.
Svitolina plays for the people of Ukraine
Since making her post-pregnancy comeback, Svitolina has openly said several times that playing a Russian or Belarusian player gives her extra motivation. At Wimbledon, Svitolina clinched an epic 2-6 6-4 7-6 (9) win over Belarusian Victoria Azarenka.
That victory meant a lot to Svitolina, who described it as "the second happiest moment of my life." "I got lots of support, and I quickly checked my phone. There was like over 60, 70 messages that I got from people. They were watching, they were cheering, lots of videos from people watching it on the TV.
Really proud of the effort that I did," Svitolina said after beating Azarenka. At the time, Svitolina also noted she is not playing only for herself when she is meeting a Russian or Belarusian player. “I know that a lot of people back home watching, supporting me.
I feel responsibility, as well. So if I'm going out to play this match against Russian, Belarusian, I feel of course more pressure that I need to win. That's why it means a lot to get these kinds of wins. In my own way, to bring this victory, small victory, to Ukraine," Svitolina said.