MELBOURNE – Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina said she felt a certain responsibility to “bring a little light” to her country after her convincing victory against Russian Veronika Kudermetova, 6-4, 6-1, on Monday, allowing her to access to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Aged 30, Svitolina trailed 4-1 in the first set before stepping up her game to win with five straight games, advancing to the last eight semi-finals in Melbourne for the first time in six years.
Kudermetova received medical treatment at the end of the first set, but was unable to turn the tide, with Svitolina breaking to lead 3-1 in the second set after a nice drop shot at the net.
Seeded 28th, the Ukrainian player, full of confidence, then prepared for a match against the American Madison Keys by sending a powerful backhand winner on the court of Rod Laver Arena.
“I was extremely motivated to win today, so that people in Ukraine would wake up to good news,” Svitolina told reporters, becoming the first Ukrainian to win 100 Grand Slam matches.
“Finding a way to win matches, to bring a little light and a small victory for the Ukrainian people, that’s something I feel like a responsibility. »
Svitolina is 7-0 against Russian players since the invasion began and wrote the message “Spirit of Ukraine” on the camera before leaving the court.
She continues to boycott the post-match handshake, a tradition that Ukrainian players have maintained in clashes against Russian and Belarusian opponents since the 2022 invasion.
-Svitolina, who qualifies for the twelfth time in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, clarified that she does not see herself shaking hands with Russian players in the future.
“Waking up to the news of friends killed on the front, shot down by Russian soldiers, is something heavy on my heart,” she added.
Although she revealed that she does not prepare differently when she faces Russian players, she acknowledged that these matches are special.
“I just feel like the spirit is different,” she said. “If I don’t win, I’ll almost die on the court: I won’t let it win so easily. »
Svitolina now prepares to play her third quarter-final at Melbourne Park, the first since 2019.
“It feels like a lifetime ago,” she said. “Coming back again and again, after pregnancy, after surgery, starting from scratch, it’s not easy, I can tell you that. »
Svitolina also announced that she will be on Margaret Court later today to cheer on her husband Gael Monfils who will face American Ben Shelton in the fourth round.
“Playing the way he’s playing right now is special,” she said of the 38-year-old French athlete.
“We are witnessing something truly beautiful. »
In summary, Svitolina’s journey at the Australian Open illustrates not only her sporting talents but also how sport can serve as a platform for support and solidarity in times of crisis. This raises the question of the impact of sport on athletes’ personal beliefs and how they navigate complex emotional contexts while pursuing their goals.
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