Elina Svitolina is currently in Kharkiv, where she decided to spend some time with Ukrainian fighters and also pose with a rocket launcher and a machine gun.
Since Day 1 of the war in Ukraine, the former world No. 3 has been trying to use her platform and position to draw attention to what is happening back home. And it didn’t stop only at words as the 30-year-old organized a couple of charity events, from which all proceedings went to Ukraine relief fund.
While the situation back home is far from perfect, Svitolina has made several visits to her country since the war began. Now that it is the offseason, the 17-time WTA champion returned to the place where her tennis career basically kickstarted – she was born in Odesa but moved to Kharkiv at 12 to give herself a better chance at succeeding in tennis.
“Kharkiv has a special place in my heart. The city that gave the feeling of real home when I started my professional career here at 12 years old. The city that continues to provide warmth and protection during the great war. If you ask me, where do I find the motivation to fight in sports arenas? This is my country, my people, my Kharkiv and our heroes,” Svitolina captioned her Instagram post.
Elina Svitolina© Elina Svitolina/Instagram – Fair Use
How Svitolina ended up in Kharkiv as a child?
The Ukrainian tennis star comes from a sporting family as her mother was a professional bowls player. When the move to Kharkiv happened, her mom still had her pro career going on. Because of that, Svitolina basically lived alone for the first couple of months in Kharkiv until her mother decided to finish her career.
While her family made sure there was someone to take care of her, she was also learning to be independent.
“I was in a rented apartment. In the morning I was picked up by the coach. At the end of the day I was brought back to the apartment. And it was very important for me to be back before it got dark. I was a very shy child. Those were my first steps to independent life,” Svitolina told The Daily Mail last year.
At the time, a 12-year-old Elina was all about hard work and striving toward accomplishing her goal of becoming a pro tennis player. Also, the life there helped her break out a bit from her shy nature and that included going on for walks alone.
“Yes, yes. But I am grateful for that time because I became more independent. At the weekends I was walking around Kharkiv by myself to learn what to show my mum when she visits,” she noted in the same interview.
Svitolina didn’t have luck with her health this year
After a very promising post-pregnancy comeback in 2023, the former world No. 3 was hoping to win a Grand Slam this year. And in early 2024, it definitely looked like the 30-year-old was primed for a big season – she made the Auckland final and also easily reached the Australian Open round-of-16.
But then in that last-16 match in Melbourne, Svitolina felt a sudden and sharp pain in her back. She ended up retiring after just three games and leaving the court in tears. Later, she admitted she was caught off guard by the back injury.
Throughout the year, she battled issued with her back. Then, her foot injury – that forced her to end her 2023 season after the 2023 US Open – also reappared. As a result, the Ukrainian decided to undergo surgery on her ankle in mid-September and focus on 2025.
“Hey everyone. So unfortunately my 2024 season is now in the history books, as I have had surgery on my foot today to correct a long-standing issue that I have been trying to manage throughout this year. This is the same issue that ended my season in 2023 and has hampered me for most of 2024. It’s become harder to manage and has been impacting me more and more, not just with regard to tennis and training but in my everyday life too,” Svitolina wrote on Instagram two weeks after her US Open third-round loss to Coco Gauff.
“BUT NOW… I am excited for the opportunity to focus on my recovery and come back even stronger than before. I am determined to do whatever it takes to get back on the court and compete at the highest level. I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement during this challenging time. Your love and positivity mean the world to me, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the courts in 2025.”
Elina Svitolina© Elina Svitolina/Instagram – Fair Use
So far, Svitolina hasn’t yet confirmed which will be her first tournament back.
Tennis World USA