Elina Svitolina: stars and children who play through horror

The crowd cheered as Elina Svitolina took to Center Court in the Wimbledon semi-finals, and millions of people in her native Ukraine joined in the cheer.

They have always been constant. Even as they take shelter from Russian shells in air raid shelters and subway stations, they still find screens to watch.

And just as Ukraine supports Svitolina, Svitolina also supports Ukraine.

“I definitely had mixed feelings,” she told BBC Sport about her journey home.

“It’s amazing to be back, but also a little scary because big cities are always under air raid warning.

“But what amazed me was the strength of the people's spirit. The fortitude built up over two years of war was amazing.”

Some of that spirit, born of conflict, traveled with Svitolina to the rarefied environment of the All England Club.

As her Wimbledon semi-final match against Marketa Vondrousova progressed and the big points were on the horizon, Svitolina remembered the people she met back home.

“Our brave soldiers protect our country,” she said. “I think about those people. I think about how they feel when they're facing a really dangerous moment there. And I think about how they feel when they're facing a really dangerous moment there. And I think about how they feel when they're facing a really dangerous moment out there. And just being there in perfect conditions on Center Court at Wimbledon. There I am, playing tennis.

“So why do I have to be so nervous?”

At the beginning of the tournament, Svitolina had defeated Belarusian Victoria Azarenka.

Belarus hosts Russian troops, allowing its allies to launch an invasion across another front near Kiev. Svitolina, like all her Ukrainian athletes, vowed that she would not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents until peace is restored and Ukrainian territory is returned.

This is a controversial and, for some, confusing position, but Svitolina supports it.

“Everyone should fight on their own front,” she says.

“Of course, the front lines are our soldiers and we are trying to support them with everything we have…with money…to help them fight the enemy.

“It is also important to help them not lose their spirit. They still follow sports and read the news. For us, it is a united decision to fight this war.”

“Yes, it's terrible. It's really terrible. My uncle and his family are there. My grandmother is still there. I'm very close to her,” Svitolina said.

“Watching the news every day is really hard. I talk to her and try to keep her spirits up. She loves talking to us. Just in the moment when your life is so normal. She just wants to see my family and see a normal life because the alarms are going off and the rockets are going off and all those noises are surrounding her.

“I can't even imagine how mentally tough it must be for her.”

When Svitolina is not at home catching up with friends and family or competing, she dedicates her time to building her foundation. The Elina Svitolina Foundation was established in 2019 to support young tennis players from her home country.

When the invasion began, the former world No. 3 had to think about what to do for those already in the Foundation's programs.

“After February 24, 2022, all our goals and views changed. For the sake of our children, we had to react quickly,” Svitolina says.

She helped the children and their families move. Only mothers and grandmothers were allowed to bring their children with them, leaving behind men who might be needed on the front lines.

“It wasn't easy for the family,” she says.

“The first thing I think about is not tennis. I think about my safety, but then it's also about continuing to do what I love, keep dreaming, keep playing sports.”

“It changes your mindset a little bit, so you don’t just focus on the war and seeing your parents worried and scared.”

The foundation held a tennis camp in Poland in September, and Svitolina visited.

Makar, 12, was one of the participants. He worked hard to improve his national junior rankings and secure a spot in the camp, he said.

“All tennis players of my generation know that only the best can get there,” he says. “The opportunity to work with the best coaches and a large professional team is everyone's dream.”

Makar, the youngest participant, said the camp was the best 10 days he had experienced in a long time.

“Elina's arrival was a surprise for us. I dreamed of meeting her. She attended practice, complimented me on the court and even gave me gifts. She is a great tennis player. '', he added, “but also a person with a big heart.''

“I am grateful to her for never forgetting her country. She is an inspiration to me. I too want to become a professional tennis player and bring glory to my country and help people in need.” I want to be able to do that.”

Makar lives and trains in Ukraine amid air raid sirens and Russian attacks.

“When the war started, it was tennis that kept us in shape,” he says. “I couldn't concentrate on anything and I didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow, but I picked up my racket and played. During the match I was able to forget everything that was going on around me.”

In November, the Foundation concluded a series of tournaments for young tennis players in Ukraine. The winner received a grant from the Foundation to support their tennis career.

But planning such an event comes with extra stress. The tournament took place in an area with an air raid shelter where children could take shelter during air alerts.

As sirens wailed outside, Svitolina handed out prizes from the women's competition at the shelter. The group remained at the shelter for four hours before being cleared to leave and begin the men's finals.

However, as always with Svitolina, the main focus is to bring joy to children.

“Parents are happy that their children are having fun and competing,” says Svitolina.

Children can also consult a mental health professional. Also, Elina has her open door policy regarding advice and questions.

“I talk to the kids first, and they can ask me any questions,” she says. “There are some good questions, and they always ask the hardest questions.

“This is a good opportunity for children to develop their talents, but also to see the world.”

Daria was one of the tournament winners and received a grant that she used for travel, competitions, and the purchase of a new racket.

“Me and the other children had a lot of emotions, not only from the training process, but also from the fact that each of our lives changed,” she says.

“The war began and everyone was forced to leave their homes and adapt to new conditions. We hadn't seen or competed with each other for such a long time.”

Daria said she first met Svitolina when she was 6 or 7 years old, traveling with her mother to get the tennis star's autograph at a shopping center in Kiev.

“She is a true leader who defends Ukraine in every capacity and helps the children who stayed in Ukraine and did not leave,” Daria said.

This tournament is also an opportunity to develop tennis in the country. Sports facilities in Ukraine were heavily damaged by shelling. According to Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports Vadim Guzeit, more than 300 facilities were destroyed.

“The National Tennis Center has been destroyed and there are few places where people can play tennis,” Svitolina said.

“I feel it is my mission for many years to come to continue to support tennis and to bring something new to Ukraine through tennis and sport, because it is very important. Tie it together.

“I am truly grateful for the sport I chose and the opportunities I have had in my career, and I am able to pass on this knowledge and this dream to the children of Ukraine.”