"We stopped trying because it was just impossible to convince them to change their minds": Svitolina on lack of support from ATP & WTA amid Russia-Ukraine war

Elina Svitolina explained to Reuters that she and her fellow Ukrainians stopped trying with the ATP and WTA after seeing the lack of support for them during the Russia - Ukraine war.

Svitolina and other Ukrainians were glad when the ATP and WTA banned players from playing under the Russian banner but felt it was not enough. The sentiment only grew stronger as the season went on and the support for them became less and less. She talked about it with Reuters admitting that they've given up in the meantime:

"In tennis, there's been nothing done towards these athletes representing these countries. In the end, we stopped trying because it was just impossible to convince them to change their minds."

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The former number one from Ukraine is set to return to tennis in the next few months but she is very busy daily working for several charities in order to support the people back home. She made it her task to raise awareness of the situation:

"We're here to do everything to tell people, to introduce them (to) what is really happening in Ukraine, because a lot of people come to me and ask, 'Is there still a war?' And this is really painful to hear."