Elina Svitolina has decided not to compete in the mixed doubles event at the US Open, prioritizing her mental health over potential prize money. The Ukrainian tennis star, who recently won bronze at the 2024 Olympics, explained her decision was partially motivated by the presence of players from Russia in the tournament draw.
"I didn't want to play this tournament for personal reasons. One of them is the large number of players from the aggressor country in the entry list. I didn't want to put myself in a position where I might have to play against them," Svitolina explained.
The Ukrainian tennis player further revealed she's already dealing with significant mental strain due to the ongoing situation in her homeland. She mentioned that she regularly undergoes therapy to cope with the emotional impact of the war.
"It's already uncomfortable knowing they're on tour, not to mention that I'm constantly in therapy because of everything happening in our country. For me, it's very uncomfortable, and before a major tournament, I want to be balanced as much as possible," she added.
Interestingly, despite the substantial prize money available even just for participating, Svitolina emphasized that her decision wasn't financially motivated. "This isn't about money, it's about my internal state," she stated firmly.
In the singles competition, Svitolina received the 12th seed at the US Open. She's scheduled to face Hungary's Anna Bondar in the first round on August 25.
Worth noting that the Ukrainian recently participated in an exhibition match where she partnered with French player Gael Monfils in doubles. Will her focused approach to mental wellbeing translate to success in the singles draw? Tennis fans will be watching closely.
