Elina Svitolina struggled to control her emotions after reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals on the same day her country suffered a horrific tragedy.
Svitolina beat Wang Xinyu 6-2 6-1 on Monday despite having been rocked by the news that at least 31 people had been killed in Ukraine by a Russian airstrike. The despicable attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv has been branded “genocidal” and had a profound effect on Svitolina, who said she had to clear the “fog” in her mind before the match.
"It was a good performance from my side and it's a very difficult day today for Ukrainian people,” the two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist told the BBC on-court before breaking down in tears. After being applauded by the crowd on Court Two, she continued: "It was not easy to focus on the match.”
Svitolina was granted permission by the All England Club to break the all-white clothing policy by wearing a black ribbon on her top to commemorate the dead. The 29-year-old is determined to use her position to highlight the atrocities being carried out by Vladimir Putin in her home country, where she still has family.
“It was really difficult for me to really be here in a way and do anything. I just wanted to be in my room, just be there with my emotions, with everything,” Svitolina said in her press conference. “You know, when you have these sad days where you don't want to do anything, it was this kind of day for me.
“It's difficult really to explain, I guess, because of course for us Ukrainians, it's very close to our heart and a very sensitive topic, very sensitive emotions that we feel every single day. But today was one of the days where it was even more difficult because the missile landed on the kids' hospital. Straightaway you see the images and everything that happened there. So many kids lost their lives. It's an extremely tough day today.”
Asked about the importance of speaking about the war in Ukraine, Svitolina added: “Of course this is one of the things that motivated me today, was just I have to put my head down and show up and do my best, my very best. Every Ukrainian is using their own way to raise awareness, to raise money, to help in every possible way they can.
“My way is through tennis. That is what has really motivated me today to do something. I tried to be focused on my job, tried to be focused on what I can control. Just do what I can in a way. I'm playing such an amazing event as Wimbledon.
"I have to also think about how I can use that in a way for Ukrainian people. At least with my win today, it was a small light that brought a happy moment for Ukrainian people.”
Svitolina will play Elena Rybakina in the quarter-final – a Moscow-born player who has chosen to represent Kazakhstan. The Ukrainian has refused to shake the hands of any Russian player, but confirmed she would shake Rybakina’s: “She changed her nationality, so it means she doesn't want to represent her original country, so it works.”