As Elina Svitolina walked off Rod Laver Arena following her fourth round defeat of Russian Veronika Kudermetova on Monday, she had a message for the world: “The spirit of Ukraine”.
The 30-year-old Ukrainian is now 7-0 against Russian players since the war started almost three years ago, and reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open is her way of giving a country ravaged by war some good news to wake up to.
“This fighting spirit that I have is completely Ukrainian spirit that I try to show, that I try to represent as well,” Svitolina said.
“Especially now these days in very difficult days for Ukraine. It’s almost been three years that the war is ongoing. Of course, it’s on a daily basis a very heavy rucksack that all Ukrainians have on their backs.
“For me to find a way to win matches, to find a way to bring a little light, a little win for Ukrainian people is something that I feel I am responsible of. To bring the fight is the least that I can do.”
February 24 will mark the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Monday’s win was particularly meaningful for Elina Svitolina. Credit: Getty Images
Svitolina, a three-time grand slam semi-finalist, was vocal about the war from the outset.
“As one of the top athletes of Ukraine, I feel like I should use my platforms, I should use my voice at the maximum that I can to raise awareness, to raise funds for multiple different kind of directions of what our Ukrainian people are in need,” she said.
“I feel like sometimes people, they forget that there’s still the war, that we still need help. Yeah, just for me [it’s] very important to show the resilience, to show that I’m here to fight no matter what, and I want to represent this spirit.”
Elina Svitolina after her fourth round win at the 2025 Australian Open.Credit: Getty, AP
Svitolina fought from two breaks down to take the first set against Kudermetova before completely dominating the second to claim a 6-4, 6-1 victory in 1 hour and 23 minutes.
“I played many times already since the beginning of the war against Russian players. For me, it’s nothing new. I’m extremely motivated to win today, that people in Ukraine wake up to good news. I’m very happy that I made it happen,” she said.
“If I’m not going to win … I’m going to almost die on the court,” she said. “I’m not going to let her win that easy.
“So I feel like this fighting spirit is really pulling me through these matches. As I mentioned, it’s just the associations that me personally I have with this country. It’s very painful and very tough on my heart. So, of course, I have an extra motivation for this.”
Since the start of the war, Svitolina has refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players at the end of matches.
A Ukrainian fan in the crowd for Elina Svitolina’s match.Credit: Getty Images
It’s a decision that has divided opinion. The crowd at Roland Garros famously booed her when she wouldn’t shake Aryna Sabalenka’s hand following her loss to the Belarusian in 2023.
But Svitolina said it was hard to imagine a time when she would ever go back to shaking the hands of players from these countries.
“I don’t really see it happening because it’s just a terrible, terrible feeling,” she said. “I [do] not wish anyone to ever experience this.
“To wake up to the news of when your friends die on the frontline, being killed by Russian soldier, it’s something that really, really heavy on my heart.”
Madison Keys won her fourth round match, booking a quarter-final against Svitolina.Credit: AP
Svitolina will play Madison Keys in the quarter-finals, after the American won 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 against former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Keys, a former US Open finalist, went as far as the semi-finals at the Australian Open back in 2015 and 2022.
The 29-year-old said she was impressed with Svitolina’s form this tournament, and would need to study ahead of their quarter-final.
“I watched her match against Jasmine [Paolini] the other day, and I was almost surprised just because I was, like, wow, OK, she’s really going for it,” Keys said.
“I mean, I think it’s kind of the evolution of all of us as we’re getting older and trying to make some changes, and if you’re not having the success, then maybe you should adapt. I mean, honestly, I was so impressed.
“She was really going for it and really going after her shots and hitting some incredible forehands. I’m definitely going to have to go watch some of her [matches] because it was not vintage Svitolina playing.
“I feel like we have had some really good battles, and it’s gone back and forth. So I’m looking forward to it.”
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