Elina Svitolina's qualification for the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the third time in her career on Monday held special significance. The Ukrainian player faced Chinese opponent Wang Xinyu with a mission beyond tennis: to honor the victims of a bombing at a children's hospital in Kyiv. Svitolina not only secured an easy victory (6-1, 6-2) but also wore a black ribbon, a rare deviation from the All England Club's strict dress code, approved in light of the tragic event.
Svitolina, visibly emotional, addressed the audience, explaining that the attack's provisional death toll stood at 36. She shared her sorrow and determination, noting that part of her family remains in Ukraine. Her victory, she said, was a small but meaningful moment of happiness for the Ukrainian people, who sent her numerous messages of gratitude.
On Instagram, Svitolina described the match as one of the hardest of her career mentally. She now faces world number four Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals, presenting another chance to bring pride to her country.
Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina's journey to the quarter-finals has been marked by dominance. The Kazakh player, a former Wimbledon champion, entered the fourth round as the favorite after top seeds Iga Swiatek and Corey Gauff were eliminated. Rybakina showcased her prowess by defeating opponents with ease, except for a challenging match against Laura Siegemund, where she lost one set. Her impressive performance continued against Caroline Wozniacki, who managed to win only one game.
Rybakina's fourth-round match against Anna Kalinskaya was highly anticipated. Kalinskaya, having the best season of her career, had not lost a single set in the tournament and had previously defeated Rybakina. However, an unfortunate wrist injury hindered Kalinskaya's performance. Despite a strong start, the pain became unbearable, forcing her to take a medical time-out and eventually withdraw from the match.
Rybakina expressed her disappointment over the match's outcome, wishing Kalinskaya a speedy recovery. She now prepares to face Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, a match that promises to be a significant event, given the emotional and competitive stakes involved.
