‘I was on a mission for my country’: Elina Svitolina defeats Russian rival Anastasia Potapova in straight sets at the Monterrey Open as No 1 seed dons yellow and blue colours in support of Ukraine amid invasion of her homeland
- Elina Svitolina said she was ‘on a mission for her country’ in Mexico on Tuesday
- The No 1 seed beat Russia’s Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 6-1 in Monterrey
- Ukrainian tennis star Svitolina wore her country’s colours – blue and yellow
- Potapova played under a neutral flag and Svitolina said invasion is not their fault
Elina Svitolina said she was ‘on a mission for my country’ after donning the yellow and blue colours of her homeland, Ukraine, to beat Russia’s Anastasia Potapova of Russia 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday in the opening round of the Monterrey Open.
Top-seeded Svitolina earlier said she wouldn’t play against Potapova in Mexico or against any Russian or Belarusian opponents until the International Tennis Federation and the men’s and women’s tennis tours barred competitors from those countries using any national symbols, flags or anthems.
The tennis governing bodies issued a statement Tuesday confirming that Russian and Belarusian players will still be allowed to compete at the top level, but without national flags.
‘Today it was a very special match for me,’ the 27-year-old Svitolina said. ‘I’m in a very sad mood, but I’m happy that I´m playing tennis here.
‘I was focused. I was on a mission for my country,’ she said. ‘From the beginning, it was important to be ready for anything that comes my way.’
Svitolina is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist with 16 career tour-level singles titles who has been ranked as high as No. 3 and is currently No. 15.
The 27-year-old revealed…
Source : dailymail
