Elina Svitolina - players.bio

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina tops Russia's Anastasia Potapova in Monterrey Open

MEXICO CITY — Elina Svitolina put on the yellow and blue colors of Ukraine and beat Anastasia Potapova of Russia 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday in the opening round of the Monterrey Open, deciding she could do more for her country by playing than boycotting the match.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina defeats Russia's Anastasia Potapova at Monterrey WTA

MONTERREY (Mexico): Ukrainian top seed Elina Svitolina blasted aside Anastasia Potapova at the WTA Monterrey tournament on Tuesday a day after threatening to boycott the game against her Russian opponent. Svitolina said on Monday she would not play against players from Russian or Belarus -- unless they were competing under a neutral banner -- as a protest against Russia's invastion of her homeland. However, the prospect of Svitolina boycotting her first round game was erased earlier Tuesday when the ATP and WTA issued a statement effectively granting her wish. That left world number 15 Svitolina free to swat aside 20-year-old Potapova, ranked 81 in the world, with ease in a 6-2, 6-1 win. Svitolina, who played in a yellow top and blue skirt, the colors of the Ukranian flag, thumped her chest repeatedly after wrapping up the win before shaking hands with Potapova.

Elina Svitolina says she won't play Russians as Ukrainian players seek action

tennis player Elina Svitolina on Monday said she would refuse to play Russian and Belarusian tennis players in tournaments. She also criticised the governing bodies of tennis, shortly after two of her compatriots aimed a swing at the WTA when they criticised the organisation for not taking a position on the Russian invasion of their country. Svitolina, ranked 15th in the world, is the top seed in the WTA tournament in Monterrey where she is drawn to play Russian Anastasia Potapova in her first match. Two other Russians, Kamilla Rakhimova and Anna Kalinskaya, are also in the draw. "I want to announce that I will not play in Monterrey, nor any other match, against Russian or Belarusian tennis players until our organizations take the necessary actions," Svitolina wrote on Twitter. "I do not blame Russian athletes," she wrote. "I wish to pay tribute to all players, especially Russians and Belarusians, who bravely stated their position against the war. Their support is essential."

Daniil Medvedev trophy defence in major doubt as ITF issue sanctions on Russia and Belarus

New world No 1 Daniil Medvedev looks increasingly unlikely to be able to defend his Davis Cup triumph this year after the International Tennis Federation announced their sanctions on the Russian and Belarusian tennis authorities. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the ITF have cancelled all their organised events in Russia and Belarus. They have also placed an immediate suspension on the tennis federations for both countries.