In the Eurosport interview with Barbara Schett, Elina Svitolina looks stunned at the war in Ukraine

“It’s very difficult to explain,” Svitolina replies when asked about her feelings: “Every time I talk to my family and friends, it’s hard to find words for what’s happening in Ukraine. Until At the last moment we didn’t believe that this war would start. And then everything happened – in the night.”

Everyone is scared, including many of their family members who live in Ukraine. “My parents, my grandparents, my uncle and my aunt live there. I try to talk to them regularly. It’s important to keep in touch – to find out exactly what’s happening and how I can help them.”

“The most painful thing,” says the 27-year-old, is to feel “completely useless.” She wanted to help, do something, but there were soldiers in the cities, people were shooting, bombs were falling. As an outside observer, the situation is “difficult to bear” – and for the people in the war zone “even more difficult”.

“Some of my friends have no electricity, no water – they have no food. They are really struggling, they constantly hear gunshots and the noise of planes and houses collapsing. It’s a horrifying feeling. I can’t imagine how the children feel,” says Svitolina in a shaky voice.

Svitolina donates prize money to the army and humanitarian aid organizations

As a professional tennis player, the wife of Frenchman Gael Monfils is aware of her responsibility. Together with the tennis community, she primarily wants to generate media attention. Svitolina already sees small steps forward, because some countries have already provided help. But there is more – especially in relation to their colleagues from the tennis industry.

“There is more that the tennis community can do. We have seen in the past the tennis community coming together and helping the world. Even now we can do a lot more. The tennis community can help to understand what is happening and therefore help the struggling people in Ukraine.”

Svitolina herself will send financial aid to her homeland in the coming weeks: “I have decided that I will donate the prize money from the tournaments here in Mexico and the USA to the Ukrainian army and to humanitarian aid organizations. This is how I can help my country and this is topical the right thing. I just want to do something and help my country,” said the Odessa-born number 15 in the world.

An action that she also announced on her social channels in an open letter to her motherland.

Svitolina’s open letter in full

letter to my motherland,

I am far away from you at the moment, out of sight of my loved ones, far away from my people, but my heart has never been so filled with your soul.

It’s difficult to describe how special you are. For me you are strong, beautiful and unique. You gave me everything and I appreciate every part of you: your culture, your education, your landscape, your seas, your cities, your people. my people

My people, every day I fear for you. I’m devastated, my eyes won’t stop crying, my heart won’t stop bleeding. But I’m so proud.

To see our people, our mothers, our fathers, our brothers, sisters and children, they are so brave and strong, fighting to protect you. They are heroes.

I pledge to donate the prize money from my next tournaments to the Army and Humanitarian Aid to help them defend you, our country.

Ukraine, you unite us, you are our identity, you are our past and our future. We are Ukraine.

MAY THE WORLD SEE US AND HELP US PROTECT YOU.

You are in all my thoughts and prayers. You are always with me. i am ukraine We are Ukraine.

Elina Svitolina, a proud Ukrainian.