Ukraine star praises Elina Svitolina for ending ‘misery’ with Wimbledon run

Elina Svitolina is “bringing joy where there is despair” with her uplifting run to the Wimbledon semi-finals, according to her fellow Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky. The wildcard dedicated her quarter-final win over world No 1 Iga Swiatek to all the soldiers fighting back in her homeland.

She also claimed the war had made her “mentally stronger”. And former world No.31 Stakhovsky, who is on active service with the National Guard, said “She has definitely changed.

“She has stayed the same person but I would say something inside her changed. She understands that she has a far more significant role than just a tennis player while she plays, she brings joy where there is despair, brings hope where there is misery.

“She is fulfilling a lot of things the Ukrainians need these days.” Svitolina, 28, claimed a “small victory to Ukraine” after beating Belarusian Victoria in a gripping final set tiebreak in the fourth round – and could face Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final.

The former world No 3 gave birth to her first child Skai last October and only returned to the WTA Tour in April after maternity leave. “I think war made me mentally stronger,” said Svitolina.

“Mentally I don’t take difficult situations as like a disaster, you know? There are worse things in life. I’m just calmer.

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“I think also, because I’ve just started to play again, I have different pressures.

“Of course, I want to win. I have this motivation, a huge motivation, to come back to the top.

“But I think having a child, and war, made me a different person. I look at things a bit differently.”

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