Ukraine war: Elina Svitolina will donate prize money
Elina Svitolina looks with great concern to her homeland, Ukraine. Speaking to Barbara Schett at Eurosport, Gael Monfils' wife announced that she will donate the prize money for her upcoming performances to aid organizations in Ukraine.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Feb 28, 2022, 10:46 am
Not even a year ago, everything seemed bliss for Elina Svitolina. The wedding pictures with Gael Monfils went around the world, the dream couple of tennis had celebrated the marriage extensively. For a few days, however, Elina Svitolina has been looking at the Ukraine with concern, which is struggling to survive after the Russian attack. In the Eurosport interview with Barbara Schett, Svitolina explained her current state of mind.
"It's very difficult to explain," Svitolina said. "Every time I talk to my family and friends, it's hard to find words for what's happening in Ukraine. Until the last moment we didn't believe that this war would start. And then everything happened - at night. My parents, my grandparents, my uncle and my aunt live there. I try to talk to them regularly. It's important to keep in touch - to find out exactly what's happening and how I can help them. The most painful thing is that I feel completely useless."
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Svitolina will compete in the tournaments in Moterrey, Indian Wells and Miami in Mexico and the USA in the coming days. And wants to use these opportunities to help as best we can. "I have decided that I will donate the prize money from the tournaments here in Mexico and the USA to the Ukrainian army and to humanitarian aid organizations. This way I can help my country and this is the right thing to do at the moment. I just want to do something and help my country."
According to Svitolina, the tennis family, which was so close to each other in the Peng Shuai case, could also do something. "We have seen in the past that the tennis community came together and helped the world. Even now we can do a lot more. The tennis community can help to understand what is happening and thus help the struggling people of Ukraine. "