Elina Svitolina has been one of the leading Ukrainian voices on the WTA Tour, and she’s made another statement ahead of the 2024 season.
The 2024 tennis season is a special one, as is the season in any other summer Olympic sport, because the Olympics will be played in Paris from July 26th to August 11th, 2024.
Recently, Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to compete at the 2024 Olympics as individual athletes, but tennis players may still face difficulties because of ITF’s rules.
Svitolina, who called for actions against Russian and Belarusian tennis players before, once again reiterated her stance after the announcement, as the Ukrainian talked to CNN.
“My position still stays the same, that I don’t think that they should continue playing for their country. But right now, my focus is on helping people. We have to take the situation as it is right now and focus on what we can control: focus on some fundraisers, on some events that we can raise funds for, for kids and for Ukraine.”
However, this time around, Svitolina focuses more on trying to help her compatriots rather than attempting to call for a ban on Russians and Belarusians. She wants to help her country, and so far, she’s been doing that.
“My family is safe; I have half of my family out of Ukraine right now, half of the family still back there. I go to see them when I have the opportunity. I’m just very surprised and proud of the spirit that all Ukrainians have been showing in these difficult times.”
Svitolina, who returned from pregnancy in 2023, was recently named the Comeback Player of the Year, and she’s set to begin her 2024 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, as she will try to replicate her 2023 success also next year.
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