Elina Svitolina has said giving birth to her daughter and the war in her home country of Ukraine has made her “mentally stronger” as she hopes to continue her “crazy” Wimbledon run in today’s semi-finals.
The 28-year-old wildcard – a former world number three – will meet Czech player Marketa Vondrousova for a place in Saturday’s final and will hope to serve up another SW19 victory.
Ahead of their match, Vondrousova called Svitolina a “super woman” who is “fighting for everything” and who is doing “amazing things”.
Svitolina has been vocal about her support for her country during the conflict and has also refused to shake the hands of Russian and Belarusian opponents – while her progress at Wimbledon comes just nine months after giving birth to her daughter.
Svitolina’s unstoppable Wimbledon run
The Ukrainian has beaten four former Grand Slam champions on her way to the semis – Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Victoria Azarenka and then in the quarter-final, top seed and world number one Iga Swiatek.
“If someone would tell me that I will be in the semi-final and beating the world number one, I would just say that they’re crazy,” a delighted Svitolina said after beating Swiatek.
Ranked at number 76, Svitolina needed a wild card to compete at Wimbledon – while her previous best showing had been to reach two semi-finals in 36 Grand Slam appearances before she had her maternity break last year.
She returned to the women’s tour in April, winning her first title in almost two years in Strasbourg – and then donated her prize money to the humanitarian aid for Ukrainian children.
‘More calm and stronger’
After her sensational victory over Swiatek, the Ukrainian revealed how she has changed as a person and a player.
“I think war made me stronger and also made me mentally stronger,” she said, referring to her homeland being invaded by Russia.
“Mentally, I don’t count difficult situations [on court] as a disaster. There are worse things in life. I’m just more calm.
“Because I just started to play again … I have this huge motivation, to come back to the top.
“I think having a child, and the war, made me a different person. I look at things a bit differently.
“I don’t have time to lose anymore.”
Refusing to shake hands of Russians and Belarusians
Before this year’s French Open, where she made it through to the last eight, she said she would refuse to shake hands with any Russians or Belarusian opponents.
“I’m standing for my country,” she said. “I’m doing everything possible in the way to support, to give a good spirit for the men, for the women, who are right now in the frontline, who are fighting for our land, for our country.
“I’m representing my country. I have a voice.”
In the fourth round at Wimbledon, Svitolina beat Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, who left Court One to a chorus of boos.
It was unclear whether the fans thought it was Azarenka who had snubbed her opponent.
Svitolina had spoken before the match about her “big motivation” to beat Azarenka “for my country”.
At the French Open, Svitolina was on the receiving end of the crowd’s disapproval when she was booed for refusing to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents.
In 2022, she said she would refuse to play any Russian or Belarusian players unless they did not compete under their nation’s flags – a move later applied by the World Tennis Association.
She has called the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “true leader of our nation”.
Life away from the court
Svitolina married French tennis player Gael Monfils in the summer of 2021.
Their daughter Skai was born last October – just eight months later, Svitolina was in the quarter-finals at the French Open.
Born in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Svitolina moved to Kharkiv when she was aged 13 – but now has a home back in Odesa along with a property near Wimbledon in London.
Her father is a former wrestler and mother a former competitive rower, while her brother is a professional tennis coach.
Svitolina said she took up tennis when she was aged just five in an effort to win more attention from her father.
She set up the Elina Svitolina Foundation in 2019 to support young tennis players – and now provides relief for Ukrainian refugees due to the ongoing conflict.
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A fan of Harry Styles
After beating Azarenka, Svitolina revealed her Wimbledon run had forced her to give up tickets to a Harry Styles concert.
“I hope Harry is watching,” she said. “I’m a big fan of his.”
Styles later wrote to her on Instagram: “Congratulations! We have four shows to go, you’re welcome at any of them. Good luck with the rest of the tournament.”
But Svitolina told reporters: “I checked his upcoming concerts that’s left.
“It depends how I’m going to do here, but looks like I might not make it in the end because obviously I want to go home to see my daughter as well.”
This story originally appeared on Skynews
