LONDON | The inspirational Ukrainian Elina SvitolinaShe, who had been a mother for just nine months, collapsed in the Wimbledon semifinals on Thursday. Center against Czech Marketa Vondrousova, then in a press conference when asked if she had felt her people’s support in the war all week.
“It’s amazing that they’ve been supporting me all along. I hope they will continue to do so,” Svitolina said, letting out the tears she had been holding back for a while in front of media representatives.
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Previously, the guest of the organizers, who had only returned to play since April after the birth of a little girl, lost 6: 3 and 6: 3 to the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, 42nd player in the world, who managed the same coup was the second final of his career at a Grand Slam tournament, after Roland-Garros in 2019.
Faced with fierce punches from an opponent at her best, and despite the unwavering support of the crowd in the closed-roof center hall, the former Top 3 member in this match could never display as much aggressiveness as a desire to overcome those who’ve been there for the entire fortnight have lived in for a long time.
Had it not been for that great second set comeback that saw Svitolina, then largely 4-0 down, claw back the score…before being broken again.
“I tried to fight. But I think I wanted to do too much when the score was 4-3 and rushed my game,” she regretted.
Another story to write
And despite the incredible story that could have been written before her, Vondrousova seemed a little less concerned about the pressure of the moment.
The 24-year-old had her own story to write: that of an athlete whose career has been marred by numerous injuries, including the wrist surgery that forced her to miss racing for six months last year, but which she still aspires to biggest titles.
Marketa Vondrusova. Photo: AFP
The Czech is also the first player without a favorite label to reach the Wimbledon final since the Open era began in 1968.
Hectic two weeks
In front of the journalists, Svitolina struggled to say whether this eventful two weeks and the pressure she was putting on her shoulders to bring some luck to her compatriots in the war was a yes or no. .
In the last few days, little Skai’s mother – born from her union with Frenchman Gaël Monfils, also a tennis player – beat world number 1, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, in the quarterfinals.
She was also in the spotlight when her round of 16 opponent, Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka, left the field. under the boos of the English publicsince there had been no greetings on the net.
“A lot of responsibility”
A decision that 28-year-old Svitolina made and maintained for a while. She finds it very difficult to congratulate a rival from Russia or Belarus when Ukrainians are on the front lines fighting soldiers from those two countries.
Elina Svitolina waves to the crowd before leaving Wimbledon Central. Photo: AFP
“Of course it is a great source of motivation [de jouer pour l’Ukraine], but it’s also a lot of responsibility, a lot of tension, she finally admitted. I tried to reconcile that as best as possible.
“But I don’t want to use that as an excuse for my defeat. “It remains a source of motivation,” Svitolina continued. I just hope that Ukrainians will continue to support me. It was all really amazing. I hope I get another chance.”