Elina Svitolina slams WTA for "useless" lip service and no real action in regards to Russia-Ukraine situation

Elina Svitolina, one of the most outspoken Ukrainian voices against the Russian invasion of her homeland since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, expanded on the subject in a recent interview, declaring that she and her compatriots are feeling "afraid" and "empty" due to the war.

Svitolina returned to action after a long break at this week's WTA 500 Charleston Open, where she suffered a first-round exit against Yulia Putintseva. Speaking to L'Equipe during her time at the tournament, the former World No. 3 touched on the recent incident with Lesia Tsurenko, where the Ukrainian suffered a panic attack prior to her match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at the Indian Wells Open and had to withdraw from the tournament.

Calling the incident "very sad," Elina Svitolina pointed out that it is impossible for people who aren't experiencing the feeling of "having no home" and being constantly worried about their families to properly understand what the Ukrainian players are going through.

"We are afraid, we feel empty. What is happening to Lesia [Tsurenko] is very sad. People who haven't experienced it can't really understand what it feels like to have no home, to feel safe nowhere, to have family in Ukraine, under the bombs, to know that Ukrainian cities are being destroyed. It's both fear and a great emptiness," Svitolina said.

The 28-year-old revealed that she spoke with WTA CEO Steve Simon about the matter, who assured her that he wasn't in favor of the war himself. At the same time, he had made it clear to her that she shouldn't become upset if players from Russia and Belarus do, as it is just their personal opinion.

Svitolina went on to slam the WTA for its inaction, remarking that the organization simply put out a lot of press releases and interviews which served no real purpose at the end of the day.

"[Simon] told me he does not support the war, but if the players from Russia and Belarus support it, this is only their opinion, and the opinion of other people should not upset me. At the same time, he noted that if this had happened to him and he had been in my place, he would have felt terrible."

"The WTA should have done more, much more, on many issues. Now it's too late. There have been a lot of press releases, a lot of interviews. It was useless," Elina Svitolina said.

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Elina Svitolina also spoke about the potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics under neutral colors, lamenting that it was not her job but the Olympic Committee's to do the needful.

Svitolina declared that as a player, she would just focus on doing her best to get ready for the event.

"I don't think about it. It's up to the Olympic Committee and the Ukrainian Committee to think about it and do their job! My job, as a player, is to get ready," Svitolina said.

Following her Charleston exit, Svitolina is set to be in action next at ITF events in Chiasso and Oeiras to get some much-needed match practice under her belt.