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March 01, 2022 – 10:55 am Clock
Even if she continues to pick up the racket and fights for her country’s title, tennis star Elina Switolina is currently thinking about her homeland every minute. “It’s the worst time of my life. Because these are my parents, my friends, my Ukrainian people who are fighting for our country there,” she admits, moved, in an interview with CNN – in the video above. “I myself hardly slept, try to follow everything that happens there.” But that’s by no means the only thing the 27-year-old is currently doing against the background of the war in her country. She also continues to play tennis to support the military financially.
Switolina: Tennis world “must stand together now”
Although Switolina wants to play at the tennis tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, she will not play against a Russian or a Belarusian opponent. She announced this on Instagram on Monday. On behalf of all Ukrainian players, she called on the men’s organization ATP, the women’s organization WTA and the world association ITF to follow the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee and only allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutral athletes. Without national symbols, colors, flags or anthem.
At the same time, she emphasized in her post that she did not hold any Russian athletes responsible for the attack on Ukraine. “Rather, I would like to express my appreciation to all the players, especially the Russian and Belarusian ones, who courageously expressed their position against the war,” wrote Svitolina. “Your support is essential.”
That’s why she’s asking all other tennis professionals of all nations for help. “I’m trying to invite the entire tennis community to support us. I think we have to stand together now,” explained Switolina.
Tennis star supports Ukrainian military with money
The world rankings-15. but wants to do more than “just” send a clear signal: “I myself try to help as much as possible. I donate money to our army and the Ukrainian military, which is fighting for us right now and many soldiers, many innocent people loses.” She announced that she intends to donate future prize money to the military and humanitarian purposes.
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In a letter to her home country, Switolina writes about how proud she is of all Ukrainians fighting for their country: “They are heroes.” And about Ukraine itself, she says: “You unite us, you are our identity, our past and our future.” Switolina herself finds it difficult to be so far away from her homeland. She had previously confessed in an interview with Eurosport: “The most painful thing is that I feel completely useless.” (lgr/ana/dpa)
