MONTERREY, Mexico — Ukrainian top seed
Elina Svitolina blasted aside Anastasia Potapova at
the WTA Monterrey tournament on Tuesday, a day after threatening to boycott the
game against her Russian opponent.
اضافة اعلان
Svitolina said on
Monday she would not play against players from Russian or
Belarus – unless they
were competing under a neutral banner – as a protest against Russia’s invasion
of her homeland.
However the
prospect of
Svitolina boycotting her first round game was erased earlier
Tuesday when the ATP and WTA issued a statement effectively granting her wish.
That left world
number 15 Svitolina free to swat aside 20-year-old Potapova, ranked 81 in the
world, with ease in a 6-2, 6-1 win.
Svitolina, who
played in a yellow top and blue skirt, the colors of the Ukranian flag, thumped
her chest repeatedly after wrapping up the win before shaking hands with
Potapova.
“It’s a very
special atmosphere each time I play here, and especially today, it’s a very
special match and moment for me,” Svitolina said.
“I’m in a very sad
mood, but I’m happy that I’m here playing tennis.”
“I was just
focused from the beginning. I was on a mission for my country.”
Svitolina is
donating the entirety of her earnings in Monterrey to the Ukrainian military.
“It’s a very
special event, all the prize money I earn here is going to the Ukrainian army,
so thank you so much for the support,” she said.
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