“There are other possibilities”: how a conflict with the Ukrainian Tennis Federation may affect Svitolina’s participation in the Olympic Games 2020

“It is not known what to expect from the federation”

One of the best athletes in Ukraine, tennis player Elina Svitolina, may have problems getting into the national team for the 2020 Olympic Games due to a conflict with the Tennis Federation of Ukraine (FTU). It originates in January of this year, but the parties have not been able to settle it so far.

“Yes, I plan to play in Tokyo and the situation is such that I need to play another match for the national team. But let’s say so, if the FTU does not need my help, then there are some other opportunities for qualifying for the Olympic tournament, since I am still a top player in women's tennis, ”quoted Tennis Ukraine’s portal as Svitolina.

In anticipation of the Cup of the Federation Cup season 2019, it became known that Svitolina, as well as the promising Dayan Yastremskaya, were not included in the team. The vice president and executive director of the FTU, Evgeny Zukin, said that the manager of the athletes, Stefan Gurov, demanded a sum of prize money for his clients that was two and a half times the original agreement.

However, Svitolina denied the organization’s statement. According to her, the reason for refusing to perform in the Federation Cup was her poor health after the Australian Open, in which she reached the quarterfinals and lost to Japanese Naomi Osaka. In turn, Gurov added that the tennis authorities of Ukraine did not try to contact him at all.

Despite this, many hastened to accuse the athlete of greed and unwillingness to defend the honor of the country.

“I am always ready to play and play for the national team when I have physical capabilities, but it is difficult to do when there are health problems. There are a lot of matches in the subgroup, but I do not think it is right to come and sit on the bench. For many years I played for Ukraine, so, frankly, it was not clear to me why they attacked me so much, and it’s not normal for the Federation to attack my top player, ”Svitolina added.

In accordance with the regulations of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), to qualify for the Olympic Games, an athlete must hold a certain number of matches for the national team in the Federation Cup or Davis Cup. To fulfill this condition, the sixth racket of the world must be played in another meeting.

In February 2020, Ukraine will compete for qualifying for the World Group. Also at the tournament in Tallinn will be Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Greece and Italy. The captain of the national team, Mikhail Filima, noted that so far it has not been possible to contact Svitolina.

“Do not forget about her heavy schedule. I spoke with Elina, she plans to play matches of the Federation Cup and also wants to speak at the 2020 Olympics. As for other Ukrainians, in the current situation, Yastremskaya and the Kichenok sisters can still play in the ranking at the Games, ”quoted Xsport Filimy.

The athlete herself hopes that the conflict with the FTU will be resolved, for which representatives of ITF were connected. Otherwise, she will have to look for another way to get a ticket to Tokyo.

“We are not considering additional options, but it is not known what to expect from the federation. In what light they exposed me, it was very ugly of them. Especially a top player. Of course, we will find out what are the solutions, but this is in case if they do not invite me or we have some problems in the negotiations, ”added Svitolina.

“I do not want to participate in political games”

Despite the fact that Svitolina really actively contributes to the development of tennis in Ukraine, including financially helping young talents, a flurry of criticism periodically falls upon her. One of the latest scandals was associated with her participation in the Kremlin Cup, held in Moscow in October. The athlete for the first time in several years decided to come to Russia, which immediately caused discontent from the fans and some functionaries.

So, the head of the Dynamo Kyiv department, Nikolai Nesenyuk, accused the two-time semi-finalist of the Grand Slam tournaments, as well as Yastremsky, of the lack of patriotism and said that their relationship with their homeland could never be called strong.

“How to evaluate this decision, given the fact that this performance will not bring athletes special tournament and financial achievements? Unless the organizers of the Moscow competitions will additionally reward them financially, which is not forbidden and is universally practiced in order to enhance the prestige of a tennis tournament, ”Nesenyuk wrote on his Facebook page.

In Moscow, Svitolina completed her second round appearance, losing to Russian Veronika Kudermetova. Commenting on her decision to take part in the Kremlin Cup, she noted that she represents Ukraine at any competitions, regardless of the venue.

“If I win the tournament or just play there, then in every match I defend the flag of Ukraine. I defend my country by doing what I do best by playing tennis, ”said the athlete.

Earlier, Svitolina criticized the ban of ex-Minister of Sports of Ukraine Igor Zhdanov on the communication of athletes with Russian-language media and Russian colleagues on the eve of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She emphasized that she would not blame the athletes who followed his recommendations, but she herself did not see the need for it.

“Personally, I see nothing wrong with the interview. And I certainly don’t want to participate in political games and oppose myself to the Russians, ”said Svitolina.