Days After Getting Booed by Paris Fans, 28-Year-Old Elina Svitolina Shows Love for Ukraine With a Sincere Move at WTA Birmingham Open

The Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina had a wonderful run in the French Open after returning from her maternity break in October. She reached the quarterfinal stage in the French Open after suffering a loss at the hands of Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka. But, after the match, she refused to do the customary handshake at the net with Sabalenka. This started a chorus of booing from the crowd, which was later described by Svitolina as something they would regret in the future. Now, in her first match of the Birmingham Classic on Monday, she lost to the Czech tennis player Linda Fruhvirtova. Though her performance couldn’t grab the headlines, her presence on the court did all the talking.

The upcoming Wimbledon is supposed to be all white for the players, but in Birmingham, Elina had the freedom to choose her colors. And she did it with all the confidence and zeal as she stood to the boos of the crowd in France. But in Birmingham, the star was allowed to express her feelings without any unsavory reactions from the crowd.

Despite defeat, Elina Svitolina stands strong for Ukraine

In the Edgbaston Priory Club, the Ukranian star donned clothes with the flowing colors of the flag of her country. Wearing blue and yellow, Svitolina was able to make the statement again, like in her previous French Open appearance. Even though it was a bright day for her activism, it turned out to be a hard day for her as a professional. She lost to her opponent in straight sets, with a final score of 6-2 6-0.

The Ukranian star has also previously talked about supporting her country in the conflict. Although she looks and acts tough on the court, she took a sabbatical in October due to the mental stress of the conflict before she extended her break due to pregnancy. She once revealed how the deadly conflict has impacted her. “I think the war changed me in so many ways. I think I treasure my time with my family, my time just on a daily basis,” Elina Svitolina revealed.

Apart from Svitolina, many notable names in the realm of tennis have expressed their support for Ukraine. Among such players, Novak Djokovic is certainly the most high-profile star to have spoken out against the Russia-Ukraine coflict. While talking to Express UK, he said, “Everyone loses and nobody wins in the war.” 

Svitolina isn’t alone as Swiatek, Saville, and other have shown their support in the past

Other female tennis stars, too, have maintained their anti-war stances on the conflict. World No.1 Iga Swiatek earlier, used to wear a blue and yellow ribbon to support Ukraine and sensitize people about the impact of the conflict. And she also has expressed admiration for her country Poland, for supporting Ukraine.

Read More: Days After Husband’s Heart-Breaking Withdrawal, Elina Svitolina Provides Much-Needed Clarity on Gael Monfils’ Physical State

Moscow-born Australian tennis star Daria Saville too has condemned the war in the past. In the March 2022 Indian Wells tournament, she expressed her pain about the conflict. And Saville expressed hope that more tennis stars raise their voices in support of the resolution of the conflict.

As the war is raging in Ukraine, it is casting its shadows on sports as well. And tennis is no exception to it.

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