“The war in Ukraine is still ongoing” – Svitolina’s hopes for help from Wimbledon
Elina Svitolina hinted to Wimbledon organisers that their help would be appreciated
Elina Svitolina at Roland-Garros in 2024 (Michael Baucher/Panoramic)
Elina Svitolina is hopeful that Wimbledon will reach out to Ukrainian players and offer them assistance as they have in previous years – although she has not yet heard anything that suggests such plans will be forthcoming.
In her press conference at Roland-Garros after her defeat to Elena Rybakina, the Ukrainian said she would appreciate any gestures from the tournament organisers.
“The war is still ongoing,” she said. “We still do – a lot of the nations, I think – all the Ukrainian players, we do a lot for our country. We help a lot, so it would be for sure unbelievable gesture again to help us little bit with the hotel, extra room as they did before.
“You know, the small things for sure they are very helpful because the rooms are I think 300 pounds or even more. So if you stay a bit longer, it’s quite a lot in the end, but you know, it’s their choice.”
Svitolina: My friends are fighting on the frontline
Asked why she thought there were now fewer discussions about Ukraine than there were a year or two ago, she replied: “It’s very sad for my country because I’m representing Ukraine. It’s the country that I’m from. I love my people.
“Of course, it’s very sad because I know that so many of my friends and people I know that are right now in the frontline and losing their lives in this horrible war. So, of course, it’s very sad for me, very sad topic as well because, you know, people and media is not talking about it anymore.
“Of course, there is other wars happening, other things happening, but yes, it’s very sad because, as I say, I have close, close friends and people that I speak on a daily basis that are fighting right now.”
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