Elina Svitolina (Ukraine), ranked 15th in the world singles singles on the Women's Professional Tennis Tour (WTA) Tour, has withdrew after meeting a Russian player in the first round of the tournament.



Svitolina was due to receive the top seed and compete at the WTA Tour GNP Insurance Open ($239,477 total prize money) that kicked off in Monterrey, Mexico on February 28th.



She, however, made it clear that she would not play in the tournament after the draw results she met Russian player Anastasia Potapova (81st) in the first round.



Svitolina, who reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the US Open in 2019, wrote on her social media account that she "will never play against a Russian or Belarusian player in the future".



She added, "She is not blaming the Russian players," she added.



Svitolina has also urged her to follow the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the Men's Professional Tennis (ATP) Tour and the WTA Tour, the International Tennis Federation (ITF).




The IOC, through the Executive Committee on February 28, will allow Russian and Belarusian players or teams to participate only as neutral members to international sport organizations and various competition organizing committees by sport, and will use national symbols, national colors, flags, countries, and country names. advised not to do so.



However, the ATP, WTA Tour and ITF, where many Russian players are in the top ranks, have not yet taken disciplinary action against Russian or Belarusian players and countries.



The only case is the cancellation of the Moscow Cup, the ATP Challenger tournament, scheduled to kick off on February 28 in Moscow, Russia.



The Challenger competition is one level lower than the regular tour.



In addition to Potapova, two more Russian nationals are participating in this Mexican tournament.



Svitolina also said that she would donate the proceeds from her participation in the tournament to the Ukrainian government at war.



(Photo = Getty Images Korea)