Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has temporarily set aside her tennis racket for a different kind of equipment.
On Monday, she shared images on her Instagram profile showing herself handling a rocket launcher and machine gun in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
Svitolina, currently ranked 23rd in the world, has long been a prominent voice against the war in Ukraine on the international tennis circuit. Now, she has taken her support a step further by visiting the front line during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
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In a social media post, she wrote: “Kharkiv holds a special place in my heart. It’s the city that gave me the feeling of a real home when I began my professional career at age 12. The city that continues to provide warmth and protection during this great war.”
According to the Daily Mail, Svitolina frequently spends her free time in Ukraine helping with efforts against Putin’s forces.
Deep Roots in Kharkiv
Svitolina, who is married to tennis star Gael Monfils, began playing tennis at age five in the Ukrainian city of Odesa. At 12, she moved to Kharkiv to train and pursue her career, which required significant sacrifices from her family.
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She has previously shared how her mother, a professional bowler, had to put her own career on hold. Meanwhile, the family lived on a very tight budget to support their daughter’s tennis dream.
“It was a difficult time, but I’m grateful that I learned to be independent,” she told Mail Sport according to the Daily Mail.
Svitolina will soon return to the tennis court to prepare for the Australian Open. However, her engagement in her homeland shows that her fighting spirit isn’t limited to sports arenas.
Her efforts make her more than just a star on Center Court – she has become a symbol of resistance and strength for Ukraine.
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