Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina (No. 27 WTA) gave a press conference after defeating a neutral opponent with a Russian passport Veronica Kudermetova (No. 75 WTA) and reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2025. A 30-year-old native of Odessa spoke about the message The spirit of Ukraine, which she left on camera after defeating an athlete from the aggressor country. Elina also spoke about the matches against the Russians and answered the question why it is not possible to shake hands with them. – On the camera you wrote “Ukrainian spirit”. Why today? ? – As I said in a previous interview on the court, this fighting spirit that I demonstrate fully reflects the Ukrainian character. I'm trying to show it to the world and represent my country. Now is a particularly difficult time for Ukraine. The war has lasted almost three years, and every Ukrainian carries this heavy burden on their shoulders every day.. . I feel responsible for this. Fighting is the least I can do for my country. – Do you feel a responsibility to remind people that the war is still going on - Yes, sure. As an athlete, as one of the leading athletes in Ukraine, I feel that I must use my platforms and my voice as much as possible to draw attention to this topic and raise funds for various ways to help our people. I think sometimes people forget that the war is still going on, that we still need help. . – How did you feel playing against a Russian tennis player today How do you think the new President Trump will influence the situation in Ukraine – I have already played against Russian tennis players many times since the beginning of the war.. This is nothing new for me. . I'm very glad I was able to do this. As for the new US President, I think he needs to be given time to prove himself. It's a difficult situation. . We can discuss this for hours, but no one really knows what will happen. We're just waiting patiently for this moment. - Since the beginning of the war, you have already won 9 matches against Russian tennis players. You talked about your fighting spirit. Where do you get your strength from Do you do anything special knowing that you will be playing against a Russian opponent And one more thing: do you see a moment when you will be able to shake hands with your Russian rival - I don't do anything special. I have the same morning routine and all the same preparations before matches.. . I just feel like my spirit is completely different in these matches.. I give my all, I give all my energy. If I don't win, I'll fight to the last, as if I'm ready to die on the court. I won't let my opponent win easily. I think it's this fighting spirit that helps me in matches like this. As I already said, I personally have very strong associations with this country. This is painful and heavy on my heart.. Of course it gives me extra motivation. As for handshakes, to be honest, given the feelings and associations that I have with this country, I cannot imagine that this will ever happen. It's a terrible feeling that I wouldn't wish on anyone to experience.. Waking up and learning the news that your friends died at the front, killed by Russian soldiers is something incredibly heavy for my heart,” Svitolina said. Earlier it was reported that Svitolina extended her successful streak in matches against Russians after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The victory over Kudermetova was Elina’s ninth over tennis players from the aggressor country since February 24, 2022. During this time, she never lost to rivals with a Russian passport. Elina will play in the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam series tournaments for the twelfth time. She has reached this stage three times at the Australian Open (2018, 2019, 2025), four times at Roland Garros (2015, 2017, 2020, 2023), twice at the US Open (2019, 2021) and three times at Wimbledon (2019, 2023).. For reaching the debut semi-final of the Australian major, Svitolina will compete against American Madison Keys (No. 14 WTA), who knocked out Elena Rybakina (No. 7 WTA) from Kazakhstan in the 1/8 finals - 6:3, 1:6, 6:3.

Svitolina is the only Ukrainian who continues to compete in singles at the Australian Open 2025. Earlier, Yulia Starodubtseva, Daria Snigur and Angelina Kalinina failed to overcome the first round of the competition. And Marta Kostyuk and Dayana Yastremskaya dropped out in the third round. The Australian Open 2025 main draw matches will take place from January 12 to 26. The current champion of the tournament is Belarusian Arina Sabalenka, who competes in a neutral status due to the full-scale war of the Russian occupiers against Ukraine.