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Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina took a position on Monday.
Svitolina was set to face Russia’s Anastasia Potapova at the Monterey Open on Tuesday, but vowed not to take the court unless the governing bodies of the sport take action against Russia over its invasion of her home country.
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Elina Svitolina from Ukraine in action against Tereza Martintsova from the Czech Republic during her match from the first round of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on February 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
(Robert Spring / Getty Images)
“We, the Ukrainian players, have asked the ATP, WTA and ITF to follow the IOC’s recommendations to accept Russian or Belarusian nationals only as neutral athletes, without displaying any national symbols, colors, flags or anthems,” Svitolina said in a statement on Instagram.
“Accordingly, I would like to announce that I will not play tomorrow in Monterey or another match against Russian or Belarusian tennis players until our organizations make this necessary decision.
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“I do not blame any of the Russian athletes. They are not responsible for the invasion of our homeland.
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka celebrates victory in her third round match against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on January 21, 2022 at the Australian Open in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia.
(Reuters / Morgan Seth)
“Moreover, I want to pay tribute to all the players, especially the Russians and Belarusians, who boldly declared their position against the war. Their support is essential. “
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Potapova responded to Svitolina’s decision.
“Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of playing tennis without choosing a game, a country or a partner in the game … for me there is no opponent from any country, I am fighting for victory, my best game, my best result … “Unfortunately, now we, the professional athletes, are essentially becoming hostages of the current situation … I am against grief, tears and war,” she wrote on Instagram.
Christina Mladenovic of France serves against Anastasia Potapova of Russia (not pictured) in the second qualifying round of the Stade IGA on August 8, 2021 in Montreal, Quebec.
(Eric Bolt-USA TODAY Sports)
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has called on governing bodies for every sport to exclude Russian athletes and officials from international events, including the World Cup.
The leader of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, said he did not agree with the IOC’s decision.
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Svitolina is No. 15 in the world and finished in the semifinals of Wimbledon and the US Open 2019.