There have been numerous cases in women’s and men’s tennis that have had to do with the war in Ukraine. From Potapova wearing the Spartak Moscow shirt to Swiatek’s criticism, the geopolitical situation makes itself felt.
Also speaking out was Elina Svitolina, who became an ambassador to stop the war in her home country, while pregnancy and subsequent childbirth kept her off the tennis courts last season.
In an interview with the Kyiv Post, the Ukrainian tennis player spoke about the situation in her home state and the consequences replicated in the world of tennis. “It is difficult for me to say how Russian and Belarusian tennis players are treated on the circuit, because I have not participated in tournaments in the last year.
But I don’t think anything has changed there, unfortunately. The WTA and ATP tennis associations continue to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to continue playing. But I hope we can change this situation.
There are already many organizations that try to give all the arguments in our favor. It is clearly not fair. Russian athletes have the opportunity to continue playing as if nothing had happened. And our athletes die for our country,” said the former world number three.
The theme of the Olympics
A few days ago it was news that the Olympic Committee would allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in Paris 2024, under a neutral flag. Svitolina, however, fights for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be excluded from the next Olympic Games: “Her most common argument from her is that sport belongs outside of politics.
They say that athletes have nothing to do with politics. I have already had so many meetings with various officials from the Olympic Committee and tennis organizations that, to be honest, I no longer have the moral strength to fight them.
After all, they just don’t want to open their eyes and face the truth,” said the tennis player. In sports, Elina Svitolina is preparing to return to the courts after becoming a mother last year.
The former Top 3 has been training to compete in the Charleston tournament, a competition that will be played on land starting on April 3. Photos: Getty Images
