Even after winning the Wimbledon tennis Ukrainian player, tears 'PopPop', why?
Jul 09, 2024
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This was because Russia attacked children's hospitals with missiles on the same day, causing many casualties.
Elina Svitolina confirmed her advance to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 (6-2, 6-1) set score in 55 minutes against Wang Xinyu (33rd in the world) in the round of 16 women's singles at the All England Club in London on the 8th (local time).
Svitolina played with a black ribbon on her white uniform to commemorate those who lost their lives in a Russian missile attack.
Winning, she shed tears and said "It was hard to concentrate on the game."
She posted on social media "Wimbledon became black for me today. It was mentally more difficult than ever."
It was also really hard to be here and do anything, saying "This is a very sad day for all Ukrainians" It was a sad day when I didn't want to do anything."
When asked by a reporter if she could congratulate her on advancing to the quarterfinals, Svitolina replied that it was difficult to feel joy.
She says "A lot of Ukrainians will share this feeling with me" and "We feel guilty about feeling happy or in a good mood. I feel guilty about everything, not because I'm in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, but like I'm going on vacation. Because I'm not in Ukraine," he added.
"Two years after the Russian invasion, it is a sad and difficult situation that there is less international interest," she said, adding that she feels pressure in the pain of war.
Svitolina, who will face Elina Rybakina (world No. 4) from Moscow in the quarterfinals, said she has no plans to refuse to shake hands with her opponent in protest.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, was born in Moscow, Russia in 1999 and changed her nationality to Kazakhstan in 2018.
bellho@sportschosun.com
