Monterrey – Contrary to her announcement, Ukrainian tennis player Yelina Svitolina has played Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in her opening match at the Monterrey tournament.
The 27-year-old prevailed in an emotional match 6:1, 6:2. There were tears in her eyes after the last rally.
“When I play here, I don’t just play for myself. I play for my country, I play for the Ukrainian army and for people in need,” said Svitolina, who took to the court wearing Ukraine’s national colours of yellow and blue. “Every victory I will get will be very special. “
He said it was her “mission to unite our tennis community to stand by Ukraine. Because what we are going through is a terrible thing for all Ukrainians.”
The day before, the number one seed Switolina had announced via Instagram that she would not play either a Russian or Belarusian opponent if they were not listed as neutral players. In the meantime, the women’s organisation WTA has made a corresponding ruling. Switolina had also declared that she would donate her upcoming prize money to the army and for humanitarian purposes.
The opening victory for Switolina’s compatriot Dajana Jastremska in Lyon was similarly emotional. After her victory over Romanian Ana Bogdan 3:6, 7:6 (9:7), 7:6 (9:7), she sank to her knees and cried. The 21-year-old had fled her homeland by boat to Romania four days earlier with her younger sister and had received a wild card in Lyon. “My heart stays at home and my mind is fighting here, so it’s very difficult to find the concentration, to find the balance,” Jastremska said.
