“It’s important that they speak,” Elina Svitolina demands Russian and Belarusian players choose sides in the ongoing war
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Elina Svitolina, Victoria Azarenka, Daniil Medvedev
Former World No. 3 Elina Svitolina has been one of the many outspoken critics of the Russian attempt to invade Ukraine that began the war in Ukraine on 24th February and a ceasefire has not yet been achieved. Svitolina was playing in Doha when the war broke out but her family and friends continue to remain in the war-torn country saving themselves from attacks of the Russians.
Svitolina played in three tournaments after the war broke out in the hopes of making public statements about the war but it became taxing for her to manage both her professional and personal life. As a result, she is currently on a break from tennis having last played in the 2022 Miami Open. Svitolina recently discussed the Wimbledon ban on the players from Russia and Belarus and demanded the players from the two nations show which side they were on.
“For us, for Ukrainians, it’s very important that they speak out, that they choose which side they take. We want to know, we want to feel safe about that. Because if they don’t say their opinion on this, we don’t know if they support their government if they support the action of the army. Because in Russia and Belarus sport is big propaganda. I feel like they need to speak up about their position, this is very important. Doesn’t matter if it’s in a Grand Slam or [another] tournament.
“I think every Russian and Belarusian athlete should take their position so that we know that there are no bad people among us. Very few. This is very sad because many athletes from different countries came up to us and showed us their support. That’s why it really hurts us and we don’t understand why exactly [Russian and Belarusian players] didn’t,” said Svitolina during her interview.
Elina Svitolina talks of her mental health challenge amidst the war
Svitolina’s break from tennis was a result of the constant worrying about her family and compatriots stuck in the war which became an obstacle for her to focus completely on tennis and she was in a mental conflict. It was a brave decision by Elina to take a break from the sport and prioritise her mental health as she once again initiated the discussion on athletes’ mental health.
“I take my time during the day to just switch off my phone. This really helps me to be calmer. We’re talking a lot, discovering something each time we talk, finding ways. For the psychologist, it was also tough for her to see me with so much sadness. I completely agree that mental health is something that has been overlooked.
“Lots of trouble athletes are going through, lots of tough moments with injuries, with performance, with pressure from media. It’s important to speak about it, to speak about your own story. I feel like this was not [done] enough before,” added Svitolina who recently announced her withdrawal from the 2022 French Open as well.
Also Read: Watch: Novak Djokovic warmly welcomed by a large group of children at the Foro Italico
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Sarthak Shitole
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