Photo credit: Women’s Tennis Association
Ukrainian tennis player, Elina Svitolina, stunned the crowds at Wimbledon after defeating world number one Iga Swiatek, in shocking upset, as Svitolina advances to the semi-finals.
The 28-year old entered the Wimbledon tournament as a wildcard. Svitolina, who is currently ranked world number 76, returned to tennis three months ago after giving birth to her daughter last October. Svitolina has been married to French pro tennis player, Gaël Monfils, since 2021.
This is will be Svitolina’s second Wimbledon semi-final appearance.
Throughout the tournament, Svitolina has defeated four former Grand Slam champions on her way to the semi-finals: Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek. Her tennis style now has dramatically changed from before she had her daughter.
“I think war made me stronger,” said Svitolina, “Of course, I want to win. I have this motivation, like huge motivation, to come back to the top. But I think having a child, and war, made me a different person. I look at the things a bit differently.”
The Ukrainian is a large vocal supporter of her country in their war with Russia. Svitolina, along with other Ukrainian players, has refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players post match.
“I represent my country. I have a voice and I have my position in this war. What the Russian government and soldiers are doing is really terrible,” Svitolina said during a press conference in June, “We are all united, Ukrainians, and this is our position.”
Svitolina has also founded the “Elina Svitolina Foundation” that aims to develop sport and tennis in Ukraine and support gifted tennis players.
Svitolina will face unseeded Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in the semi-finals.