Ukrainian waiting for association
Tennis star no longer plays against Russians
02/28/2022, 9:57 p.m
On the first Monday after the start of the war in Ukraine, the sports world in Russia collapses. Associations and athletes no longer regard the competitors there as opponents. There are suspensions. It’s not that far in tennis. That’s why the Ukrainian Elina Switolina does not compete at all.
The Ukrainian top player Elina Switolina refuses to play against Russians or Belarussians on the WTA tour. Switolina, who wanted to play as the top seeded player at the WTA tournament in Monterrey/Mexico this week, canceled her first round match against the Russian Anastasiya Potapova. “I would like to announce that I will not play against Russian or Belarusian tennis players in Monterrey or in any other match until our organizations take the necessary measures,” Svitolina wrote on Twitter.
“I don’t blame the Russian athletes,” she continued. “I want to pay tribute to all the players, especially the Russians and Belarusians who bravely spoke out against the war. Your support is essential.” Switolina had previously wished for more support from the tennis world for her home country, which was attacked by Russia. “The tennis community can do more. We’ve seen in the past that they came together and helped the world. Now we can do a lot more,” said the world number 15. in an interview with Eurosport.
Her colleagues on the tennis tour can “help to understand what is happening and thus help the fighting people in Ukraine,” said Switolina. She herself announced on Twitter on Sunday that she would donate her prize money from the upcoming tournaments to the armed forces and the population in her home country. The 27-year-old tries to speak regularly to her parents, grandparents and other relatives who live in Ukraine. “It’s important to keep in touch – to find out exactly what’s happening and how I can help them,” said Switolina. “The most painful thing is that I feel completely useless.”
