"I will never shake hands with them": Svitolina speaks out about Russian tennis players

The best tennis player in Ukraine, Elina Svitolina, has called shaking hands with representatives of Russia and Belarus unacceptable. The 29-year-old Odesa native emphasized that today she is not only acting as our country's ambassador to the world but also engaging in social activities.

Svitolina said this in an interview with the authoritative Italian publication La Gazzeta dello Sport. The bronze medalist of the 2020 Olympic Games also added that she has no plans for the next year but is focused on training and helping Ukraine.

"I have a clear idea of the situation: I will never shake hands with either a Russian or Belarusian tennis player, I can't and don't want to do that. I feel a great responsibility as a public figure, and in a way it helps my tennis. There are things in my life right now that are much more important than tennis, and in some strange way it helps me play better. The most important thing in 2024 will be to stay healthy and fit, to keep improving. I don't set specific goals, I don't set myself any limits because in 2023 I showed that everything is possible," Svitolina said.

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