Elina Svitolina brings ‘happiness’ to Ukraine with thriling win over Azarenka

Results always matter but sometimes, results mean everything. In the most incredible atmosphere on No 1 Court on Sunday, Elina Svitolina, driven by a desire to bring a little happiness to her nation in a time of war, produced a stunning, courageous, emotion-filled win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon.

Less than nine months after becoming a mother, the 28‑year‑old Ukrainian fell on the court after her 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9) win, almost unable to believe what she had accomplished. Standing alone, she soaked up the applause from a captivated crowd who had been treated to a brilliant contest. A deciding tie-break was a fitting way for a match of this quality to be decided, but this wasn’t really about the tennis.

“I think after giving birth to our daughter, this is the second happiest moment of my life,” said a beaming Svitolina, who had to wait more than a minute as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.

“It was an extremely tough match. When I was 2-0 down in the second set, I heard you guys cheering for me and I almost wanted to cry. I was really, really struggling and I wanted to really win today. I was just trying to fight and find a way to win the match. You guys gave me so much strength today.

“I was thinking back home there’s lots of people watching and cheering for me,” she continued, holding back tears. “I know how much it means to them and any moments that they can share happiness … I was just thinking there are tough times in Ukraine, I’m playing here in front of your guys, I cannot complain, I just have to play and fight and try to win every single point and in the end, here I am, I won the match.

“I feel responsibility, as well. So if I’m going out to play this match against Russian, Belarusian, I feel of course more pressure that I need to win. That’s why it means a lot to get these kinds of wins. In my own way, to bring this victory, small victory, to Ukraine.”

After two hours, 46 minutes of the most intense, fantastic tennis, there was no handshake between the two, something commonplace on the tour when Ukrainian players compete against Russian or Belarusian players.

Azarenka raised her hand in a gesture of congratulations towards Svitolina but as she left the court, she was booed by a section of the crowd, who seemingly misunderstood what had happened, thinking it had been Azarenka that had refused the handshake. The former world No 1 stopped in her tracks when she heard the boos, before offering an offensive gesture of her own, putting two fists together and quickly pulling them apart.

Victoria Azarenka was booed by some spectators. Photograph: Shaun Brooks/Action Plus/Shutterstock

It has been obvious since her return that Svitolina, a former world No 3 who is now assured of a return to the top 40, is playing for something greater than herself. Not just for her family – her husband, Gaël Monfils, is back home looking after their daughter – but for her country. Every morning, Svitolina checks the news from overnight, sometimes changing her training times if the fighting at home has been particularly heavy.

For some, that responsibility of playing for more than oneself could be a burden; for Svitolina, it has been liberating. Once a player who struggled to cope at the back end of grand slams, Svitolina is a player transformed, with more power, more aggression than before.

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What she also has is the hearts of the world on her side and she was willed back into a match that had looked like slipping away from her fast. Azarenka had won all five of their previous matches and at a set and 2-0, she looked almost home and dry. But when Svitolina held serve for 1-2, she gave out a big fist pump and the crowd responded. The match then became a classic, of the absolute highest quality.

Svitolina hit back, levelled the match and went 3-0 up in the third, before being pegged back to 3-3 as Azarenka forced the issue once again. Fittingly it went to a deciding match tie-break, and at 7-4 down, she was in real trouble again. But that inner belief and the support of the fans brought her back. At 9-8, she had match point only for Azarenka to put away a fine smash. At 10-9, Svitolina had another. She took a deep breath and sent down her eighth ace, before collapsing on the court in sheer joy.

Svitolina will play the world No 1, Iga Swiatek, in the quarter-finals. It is a match that on paper, the four‑time grand slam champion will be favoured to win, even if grass is not her best surface. Grass isn’t Svitolina’s best surface either, but she is on a mission.