Elina Svitolina, a Ukrainian tennis player who is still undefeated at Wimbledon, claims that Russia’s invasion of her nation has made her “mentally stronger” on the court. Svitolina, who started playing tennis again this year after giving birth to her daughter in October, defeated the No. 1 player in the world on Tuesday to advance to her third grand slam semifinal of her career.
The former world No. 3 was given a wildcard entrance to Wimbledon, but now, when she takes on Markéta Vondrouová of the Czech Republic on Thursday, she might make it to her first-ever major final if she defeats Marketa Vondrousova.
Soon after her match against Vondrousova, Svitolina commented: “I think war made me stronger and also made me mentally stronger. Mentally, I don’t take difficult situations as disasters. There are worse things in life. I’m just more calm. I also think that because I’m just starting to play again, I have different pressures. Of course, I want to win. I have this huge motivation to come back to the top, but I think having a child and going to war made me a different person. I look at things a bit differently.”
Svitolina in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2023
LWWLWLWWLW Currently ranked no.76, Elina has managed to achieve a 17-8 match record in 2023. Elina is now having a run in Wimbledon where she ousted the world no.558 Venus Williams 6-4 6-3, the world no.28 Elise Mertens 6-1 1-6 6-1, the world no.128 Sofia Kenin 7-63 6-2, the world no.20 Victoria Azarenka 2-6 6-4 7-69 and the world no.1 Iga Swiatek 7-5 6-75 6-2.
Elina Svitolina will compete against the world no.42 Marketa Vondrousova in the semifinal on Thursday at 1:30 pm on Centre Court. Their current head to head is 3-2 for Svitolina.
Elina clinched 1 title in 2023 in Strasbourg.
The Ukrainian won 17 titles in her career: 9 on hard courts, 6 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
She is also scheduled to play at the U.S. Open (U.S. Open) after Washington. The main draw will start on the 31st of July.
Vondrousova in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2023
LLWLWWWWLW Currently ranked no.42, the Czech has managed to achieve a 29-10 record in 2023. The Czech is now competing in Wimbledon where she conquered the world no.59 Peyton Stearns 6-2 7-5, the world no.12 Veronika Kudermetova 6-3 6-3, the world no.21 Donna Vekic 6-1 7-5, the world no.33 Marie Bouzkova 2-6 6-4 6-3 and the world no.4 Jessica Pegula 6-4 2-6 6-4.
Marketa Vondrousova will come up against the world no.76 Elina Svitolina in the semifinal on Thursday at 1:30 pm on Centre Court. Their record is 3-2 for Svitolina.
Elina Svitolina and Marketa Vondrousova played each other 5 times. Their record is 3-2 for Svitolina. Before, the last time they played each other, Marketa Vondrousova won 6-3 6-1 in the semifinal in Tokyo (Olympics) in July 2021.
