Earlier this week, Elina Svitolina returned to Ukraine for the first time since the Russian attack. The young mother confided in this trip rich in emotions to the Associated Press, and reveals that she plans to resume competition in April.
The year 2022 has been rich in emotions for Elina Svitolina, who experienced the worst in February, with the attack on her country, Ukraine, and the best in October, with the birth of her daughter Skai. The 28-year-old tennis player has not played since March and her entrance defeat in Miami, taking a break first for psychological reasons because of the war, then because of her pregnancy. Almost a year after the start of the conflict, Elina Svitolina returned to Ukraine earlier this week. In kyiv, the ambassador of the association United 24, which aims to raise funds for the country, was able to meet the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky. She also went to a maternity hospital to donate a generator, which can help in the event of a power cut. Then she went to Odessa, in the south of the country, to visit her grandmother, who remained in Ukraine despite the conflict.
Thank you for being a true leader of our nation. The Ukrainian people are UNITED like never before. Glory to Ukraine 💙💛 @U24_gov_ua #Ukraine #ukraine pic.twitter.com/gn1RT7md1q
— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) February 10, 2023
Svitolina: “Something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy”
The former world No. 3 (in September 2017), winner of sixteen tournaments (including the Masters) and bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, confided in the‘Associated Press after this trip to Ukraine. After calling for the banishment of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris Olympics, she spoke a little more personally about this trip.
“It’s the first time I’ve been separated from my daughter for so long, and of course I would like to be with her. But I have a greater mission to carry out to liberate the Ukrainian people (…) This trip reminds me of the first hours of the invasion. It was extremely stressful for me. I was still playing on the circuit at the time. I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t live my life normally. It was a horrible time for me. The visit to the maternity ward really reminded me of what I was going through and how strong these women are (…). On February 24, it will be a year since the war began. It’s something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. It will be a sad day. »
Svitolina and Monfils back soon
Back in training since the end of December, the young mother (378th in the world) now hopes to resume competition, and is aiming for April as a return date. ” I am actively preparing, confides the wife of Gaël Monfils, who should return to the circuit next week in Rotterdam, after six months of absence. The little Skai will see her parents a little less in the coming months…
