Svitolina: “I will not compete against a Russian or Belarusian athlete”

Elina Svitolina announced in a message on social media that she will not be participating in the 250-meter tournament in Monterrey this week on the occasion of her draw against Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in the first round of the institution.

The 27-year-old Ukrainian, who announced a few hours ago that she would donate the prize money from her next tournaments to the Ukrainian army, wrote in her new message:

“I believe that the current situation requires a clear position from our organizations: the ATP, the WTA and the ITF.

The Ukrainian players, we have asked our three federations to follow the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee to only accept the Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutral, without showing any of the following elements: national symbols, colors, flags and anthems.

I would also like to announce that I will not play in Monterrey tomorrow, nor in any other match I have to play against a Russian or Belarusian athlete, until our organizations have made the -necessary- decision mentioned above.

I don’t blame any of the Russian athletes. You are not responsible for the invasion of our country. In fact, I pay tribute to all the athletes, especially the Russians and Belarusians, who bravely publicly expressed their opposition to the war. Your support is essential.”

source: Tennis24.gr