Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 15, 2021 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in action during her fourth round match against Jessica Pegula of the U.S.Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 15, 2021 Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in action during her fourth round match against Jessica Pegula of the U.S.
“I think it’s my mission to unite our tennis community to stand with Ukraine, to help Ukraine because what we’re going through is a horrible thing for all Ukrainians,” former world number three Svitolina told reporters after her victory. The players exchanged a few words at the net after the match before Svitolina showed her appreciation for the support from the crowd.
The 21-year-old and her younger sister had spent two nights in an underground car park last week before their parents sent them out of Ukraine by boat to Romania and then safely to France.