"Everybody has been lifted up": Stakhovsky reveals Ukrainian soldiers have taken inspiration from Svitolina's Wimbledon run

Currently playing in the semi-finals of 2023 Wimbledon, Elina Svitolina has done all of this amid the back drop of the ongoing war in her home country in Ukraine and has motivated the soldiers, a former pro has told i News.

Sergiy Stakhovsky who once beat Roger Federer in a memorable Wimbledon moment swapped his racquet for a rifle last year.

But even in the trenches, the soldiers have taken solace and have got excited about his fellow tennis player having an incredible run at SW19.

She faces Marketa Vondrousova on Thursday afternoon and the soldiers will attempt if the internet holds up to follow along.

"Everybody has been lifted up. Everybody is talking about it, and everybody is waiting for the match," Stakhovsky told British newspaper i.  

“Of course there is extra motivation. But she knows how to categorize things and get ready for matches, because it is impossible to play tennis with your mind in Ukraine.

While not thinking too far ahead, he admits that he isn't sure of the true scale of reaction that a final win would cause for Svitolina but that they want her to get the chance to do it.

“I don’t know what would happen if she won. But we want her to have the chance to do it.