Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1393022
ITF World Summer 2021 15 similar, she has a deep sense of national pride and a desire to achieve on behalf of her country. This was evidenced in April when she led Ukraine to victory over Japan in the Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Play-offs in Chornomorsk, propelling her side to the competition's Qualifiers in 2022. It proved a hugely successful homecoming for Svitolina, who was born in nearby Odessa and spent her formative years on the clay courts of the Elite Tennis Club – the venue for the tie – where she practised for hours before school. It was also a noteworthy occasion as Svitolina, days after announcing her engagement to fellow tennis star Gael Monfils, won the very first point of the Billie Jean King Cup era following the competition's rebrand. Two match-wins followed, albeit against an inexperienced Japanese outfit, although Yuki Naito – a gold medallist at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games – pushed her illustrious opponent to the limit in the second. The result, however, was Svitolina, Ukrainian flag in hand, leading her teammates on a celebratory lap of the court as Loca by Shakira blared from the tannoy. National service clearly brings out the best in her. "It is very special when I play for my country," said Svitolina. "I doesn't matter if I play Billie Jean King Cup or the Olympics, it is something extra and you find this edge to find more and play better. "But the Olympics is always an important event and I am extremely proud to represent Ukraine. When it's Olympic year, I look forward to that and try to prepare the best as I can. "I want to be remembered as a fighter for my country. I want to win everything that I play and I always try to do my best and be at my best for Ukraine." Relaxed all week among familiar surroundings, Svitolina joked in the aftermath of the tie with Japan that perhaps the secret to her Billie Jean King Cup success had been the availability of borsch, a traditional Ukrainian dish. Whether borsch will be available in Tokyo is another matter. If so, Svitolina's Olympic dreams might just become more of a reality. Either way, she is likely to give her gold medal rivals some considerable food for thought. n " I want to be remembered as a fighter for my country. I want to win everything that I play and I always try to do my best and be at my best for Ukraine." Above She also made the last four at Wimbledon in 2019 Le Reaching her second Roland Garros quaterfinal in 2017 Svitolina reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2019 OLYMPIC GAMES