Ukraine war: Elina Svitolina criticizes Russian tennis players for statements against war

At the subsequent press conference after entering the final of the ATP tournament, Rublev said: “You realize how important it is to have peace in the world and to respect each other no matter what happens and to be united.”

The current number 25 in the WTA world rankings complained that such statements offered room for interpretation. “Are you saying that our Ukrainian soldiers should just give up and write off our country? Is that what ‘no war’ means?” the Ukrainian asked, saying, “You can think of it in different ways.”

On Wednesday, Svitolina had spread a demand from Ukrainian athletes via her social channels. In it, the authors asked the organizations WTA, ATP and ITF to ask Russian and Belarusian athletes three questions about their positions on the war.

“There comes a time when silence is treason. And that time is now,” wrote Svitolina’s authors in their statement.

Svitolina does not demand a categorical exclusion

In addition, the Ukrainian made it clear in an interview with the “BBC”: “We do not want a complete exclusion. But we want them to stand up and position themselves, whether they are on the side of Russia or on the side of the rest of the world. That’s for the most important thing to me.”

In this respect, Svitolina did not want to support a categorical exclusion. “If they don’t choose this government, it would be fair for them to play,” said the 27-year-old Ukrainian.

The two-week tournament begins on June 27th.