Elina Svitolina, a talented tennis player and three-time Grand Slam semifinalist who once reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world, is eager to support her nation, Ukraine, during the Billie Jean King Cup playoff against Austria. This event is taking place in McKinney, Texas, approximately 35 miles from Dallas. Despite her enthusiasm, Svitolina is currently recovering from ankle surgery, and is looking forward to returning to the sport in time for the Australian Open in January. Though she cannot compete, she traveled with the Ukrainian team for this significant match, which is considered a “home” event despite being moved from Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict with Russia that has persisted for over two and a half years.
In a video interview, Svitolina expressed her sadness over not being able to host the matches in Ukraine, which she described as a vital experience due to the support from fellow citizens. “Of course, it’s tough for us not to be able to host the matches in Ukraine. The support of your people is special, so we are very sad that we don’t have that chance now these days,” Svitolina shared. She further expressed her gratitude towards those who have worked hard to organize events for her team outside of their homeland. “Can’t thank them enough for these gestures,” she added.
The matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will contribute to Svitolina’s charitable foundation, which was established in 2019 to provide assistance to Ukrainian athletes and children. The foundation plays a crucial role in supporting the Billie Jean King Cup team, which had previously hosted a “home” match in Amelia Island, Florida. Ilya Marchenko, the captain of the Ukrainian team, emphasized Svitolina’s importance to both Ukrainian tennis and the nation’s morale: “You cannot overstate her impact on Ukrainian tennis and on the nation, in general. People in Ukraine need positive emotions,” he stated. He acknowledged Svitolina’s prioritization of humanitarian efforts over her career, calling her an inspiration for many.
Svitolina mentioned that she frequently visits Ukraine, with her most recent trip about a month ago. During these visits, she meets with family and friends and engages in activities for her foundation, including organizing sports camps for children. “I really enjoy it, even though it is really tough because of the missile attacks. Right now, daily, basic life is really difficult in Ukraine,” she explained. She believes that sports can provide a much-needed source of stress relief for many Ukrainians, saying, “But I want to be there. I want to meet with people. I want to give them, at least for a few moments, a good moment that they can enjoy.”
Currently, without Svitolina, who is ranked No. 23, and Marta Kostyuk, who is ranked No. 18, the highest-ranked player from Ukraine competing in Texas is Lesia Tsurenko, who holds the No. 118 spot. The Austrian team features Sinja Kraus, who is ranked No. 222. The weekend’s events include two singles matches on Saturday, followed by another two matches on Sunday, all part of a best-of-five series. If neither team has secured victory by the end of Sunday, a doubles match will conclude the competition.
The team that wins this playoff will secure a place in the World Group for 2025, obtaining a chance to contend for inclusion in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.