Elina Svitolina news: Svitolina will play against Russian player in Mexico after agreement reached

News

Eshlin Vedan
March 1, 2022

A report published by BTU.ua has claimed that Elina Svitolina’s threat to boycott this week’s Abierto GNP Seguros Open in Monterrey has been cancelled after organizers agreed to a set of conditions.

World no 15 Svitolina announced that she would not play against Anastasia Potapova following Russia’s invasion of her native Ukraine. While she expressed that she did not hold anything against Potapova personally, she felt that it was important for her to take a stand over the poltical situation in her native country.

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Svitolina has also called upon the WTA to reclassify Russian and Belorussian players as neutral athletes.

“Dear all, I believe the current situation requires a clear position from our organisations: ATP, WTA and ITF,’ Svitolina wrote on Instagram.

“As such we – Ukrainian players – requested to ATP, WTA and ITF to follow the recommendations of the IOC to accept Russian or Belarusian nationals only as neutral athletes, without displaying any national symbols, colours, flags or anthems.

“Accordingly, I want to announce that I will not play tomorrow in Monterrey, nor any other match against Russian or Belarusian tennis players until our organisations take this necessary decision.

“I do not blame any of the Russian athletes. They are not responsible for the invasion of our motherland.

“Moreover, I wish to pay tribute to all the players, especially Russians and Belarusians, who bravely stated their position against the war.

“Their support is essential.’

The latest report has suggested that the match against Potapova will go ahead under new conditions which were listed in her statement. The Russian flag was removed from the WTA website and app for a short while before returning.

The governing bodies of tennis are currently under presure to clarify their stance over the ongoing issue in Ukraine following a call from the International Olympic Commitee to ban all athletes from Russia and Belarus from competition due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Elina Monfils