2023-06-11 04:37:12
French Open: Swiatek shows solidarity with Ukrainians
Swiatek won her fourth Grand Slam title in Paris © AFP/SID/THOMAS SAMSON
After successfully defending her title at the French Open, Iga Swiatek showed solidarity with the Ukrainian players.
After successfully defending her title at the French Open, Iga Swiatek showed solidarity with the Ukrainian players. “They have my support because I know their situation is not easy,” said the 22-year-old number one in the world tennis rankings after her final victory over Czech Karolina Muchova in Paris: “If I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t know whether I would be able to compete.”
Swiatek also stressed that the tennis community must stand together to make “every effort” to “stop the Russian invasion.” Swiatek explained that she has great respect for her Ukrainian colleagues.
Ukrainian players around the quarter-finalist Elina Switolina had taken a stand against the war in their home country at the clay court Grand Slam in recent weeks. Switolina, for example, refused her Russian and Belarusian opponents the obligatory handshake at the net after the matches.
Swiatek secured her third French Open title and fourth overall in a Grand Slam on Saturday. In the final, she beat surprise finalist Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Then Swiatek had a minor mishap when she dropped the lid of the silver cup at the awards ceremony.
“I actually thought that I would hold him, but I think all the emotions led to it,” said Swiatek. “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful and it won’t happen again – hopefully.”
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