Elina Svitolina, a Ukrainian tennis player, has been feeling the warmth and encouragement from American fans as she advanced to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells. This wave of support comes in the backdrop of a heated exchange between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump, which played out on television at the White House last month.
In recent developments, talks between the two nations have resumed, with Ukraine expressing readiness to agree to a proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia, put forward by the U.S. This has bolstered the camaraderie on the court, with both Svitolina and fellow Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk acknowledging the enthusiastic backing they’ve received in California.
Reflecting on her experience, the 30-year-old Svitolina shared, “Since that Oval Office meeting, I have received countless messages from Americans, full of love and support for Ukrainians back home. The overwhelming support I’ve received, especially after facing three American players consecutively, is truly incredible.”
Balancing her professional commitments and the weight of her country’s situation, she added, “I feel a responsibility to perform well for Ukraine. I stay updated on the news daily, making time for both current affairs and tennis. It’s been disheartening to face continuous negative news from Ukraine.”
Svitolina faced a challenging match that lasted five hours, including nearly three hours of rain delays, ultimately defeating American fourth seed Jessica Pegula with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in the last 16.
Marta Kostyuk, at 22 years old, experienced similar support throughout the tournament, despite her loss to Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the last 16. “The messages and apologies from people have been overwhelming,” she noted. “It’s heartening because you never know how people will react to different situations. I’m immensely grateful for the support.”
She recounted a common experience: “In everyday interactions, like with car drivers, once they learn I’m from Ukraine, their immediate reaction is empathetic, often expressing sorrow. Thankfully, I haven’t encountered any negativity here, which feels comforting.”
