Indian Wells star willing to go to war for Ukraine | Sports News

Elina Svitolina, the world’s 23rd ranked tennis player, has declared her readiness to “go to war” for Ukraine, her homeland.

Since the conflict with Russia erupted nearly three years ago, the Indian Wells Open star has leveraged her platform to raise funds and awareness for her country. During an offseason trip back home at the end of last year, the two-time Wimbledon semifinalist even learned how to operate a rocket launcher. Now, at 30, she confirms that she would take up arms for her country if necessary.

Since 2022, Svitolina has been actively raising money for Ukraine and keeping their struggle with Russia in the public eye. The winner of 17 titles also serves as an ambassador for United24, a government initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelensky to fund Ukraine‘s resistance.

The former world No. 3 often attributes her tenacity on the court to her Ukrainian fighting spirit. In a recent interview with Bild, when asked directly if she would go to war, Svitolina responded affirmatively: “I would go, for sure.

“I know I’m not in that situation now because I have my family. I’m also probably more useful collecting money than I was on the front line. I’ve raised more than 1.5 million euros for my country in the last three years. I think that’s more useful than giving me a gun.

“But many soldiers had no training at the start of the war, they just took their guns and tried to defend their home and their city.”

Svitolina’s efforts have enabled the purchase of drones and other equipment for the troops. After clinching the Strasbourg title in 2023, Svitolina generously donated her prize money to Charter, contributing to their arsenal.

During an offseason visit to their Kharkiv base, she was seen training with a rocket launcher, embracing the fighting spirit she believes is evident in her game. She added: “When I go to the training ground, I always have the will to do that. My spirit is a fighting spirit. I think you can see that on the court.

“Yes, it’s very different from being on the front line. But at the same time, I feel like I’m there. Something opens up inside me that you don’t know. A lot of soldiers have that. I talk to a lot of them. When they go to the front line, they start fighting for the country. When they’re wounded, they recover and then keep fighting.

“When you have a mission, when you have a goal for your country, you don’t see anything that will destroy you. Nothing that could happen to you. You just go there. I think that’s a soldier’s mentality.”

Currently competing at the Indian Wells Open and advancing to the last 16, Svitolina expressed gratitude for the “kindness and solidarity” shown by her “friends in the USA” during these challenging times.