The war in Ukraine has been a prominent topic in the media due to the complicated situation in the locker room as a result of it, but for Elina Svitolina it means nothing.
The Ukranian player advanced to the 3rd round of Roland Garros with a comeback with over Storm Hunter confirming a plan to donate all of her prize money earned to her country. The native Ukrainian has been at the forefront of several charitable actions.
She recently donated all of her prize money earned in Strasbourg last week after winning her first trophy since becoming a mother. The win catapulted her on the rankings allowing her to enter future events easier and a good run in Paris will certainly aid in that.
While she's focusing on tennis right now, Svitolina is not neglecting her platform as a prominent tennis player from Ukraine.
She's used every opportunity to promote the Ukranian cause calling for more help to the country while also recently questioning the intentions of tennis media who cover the situation and the implications it has on the WTA Tour. To her, as to many other players from the country, it looks like it's only for 'clicks'.
I feel like in tennis media is making some articles just a little bit just for sake of it. You know, just for clicks. Sorry to say that, but it's true. I don't know, some player not from Ukraine said something, it's not helping. It's not helping Ukrainian people. It's not helping us so much in any kind of way. For us it's just, yeah, empty words, as I mentioned before.
She's likely not wrong as tennis media as well as the tennis out mostly operates as a business so maximizing revenue will always be a concern. It speaks to the brutality of life in general as ultimately a lot of people only care once it affects them.
Svitolina herself tries to remind herself how lucky she is to be doing what she's doing while a war rages back home.
You know, I really try to understand that how lucky I am to be where I am and to have a voice, as well. Also to, you know, to play on such a big event, to have opportunity to play such big events, to motivate young kids of Ukraine, to have this opportunity.
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