Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

War in Ukraine: Wimbledon wins motivating Anhelina Kalinina to help country's fight against Russia

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Monday, 27 June 2022 10:56

Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina says she is being motivated to win at Wimbledon by earning as much money as possible to help people back home survive the war.

After claiming her first main-draw win at SW19, Kalinina revealed her parents' house in Irpin had been bombed as the attacks by Russia continue.

"It's hard to focus, but it matters if I win or if I lose," she said.

Kalinina next plays compatriot Lesia Tsurenko, who said they want to remind people "Ukraine is still in trouble".

Kalinina, 25, said her parents are "alive and safe" and now staying in her apartment while they rebuild their home.

However, her grandparents are still stuck in occupied territory and Kalinina says they are living "next door to Russian soldiers with all their military stuff".

"The more I win, I'm not only helping my family, I'm helping other families and other people," said 29th seed Kalinina, who won 4-6 6-2 6-4 against Hungary's Anna Bondar.

"You go further. You earn more money. Then I'm able to help, and I'm helping as much as I can and not only to my family. So for me that matters.

"I'm not a superstar so I'm helping with what I can. And it's a lot to them, and for me that's huge motivation to play. Huge."

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, thousands of civilians and combatants have been killed or wounded, and at least 12 million people have fled their homes.

Tsurenko, 33, said there had been a bomb attack just 100 metres from her house in Kyiv and has been working regularly with a psychologist to try to deal with the traumas of what is happening back home.

"When the war started I start to feel this tension inside of me and I think even if I work every day with a psychologist, and I try to, I don't know how try to avoid this emotions. It's impossible," said Tsurenko, who reached a career high ranking of 23rd in the world in February 2019.

"I think this feeling, this tension, will only be released when the war will finish. There is nothing I can do about it."

But she added: "I feel that I play better, just because for me emotionally winning or losing doesn't exist any more.

"There is a big issue in my life: it's war. And there is nothing else that can beat this."

Tsurenko said she would want to wear a Ukrainian ribbon on her kit during the match against Kalinina if she was allowed, with the All England Club confirming she could "assuming it was agreed" with organisers beforehand.

Their opening victories came on the same day Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, was one of the guests in the Centre Court royal box.

There were also representatives from the Polish Family Association - a charity supported by the Wimbledon Foundation caring for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Poland and the UK.

Two days ago, Ukrainian former player Sergiy Stakhovsky, who reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2013 and 2014, tweeted photographs of the war to starkly illustrate how he would be spending the next two weeks while the championships are being played.

Read 170 times

Soccer

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Atléti mark Simeone's 700th game with late win

Diego Simeone's 700th game in charge of Atlético Madrid ended in a late 2-1 win over Deportivo Alave...

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

Sources: Olof Mellberg to become St.Louis boss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer Aston Villa and Sweden defender Olof Mellberg has signed a m...

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

Arteta backs Saka amid Kane drop-outs comment

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMikel Arteta has hit back at anyone questioning Bukayo Saka's commi...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

NBA follows NFL in warning players on burglaries

EmailPrintThe NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes followi...

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

Sources: Zion (hamstring) not close to returning

EmailPrintNew Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has undergone multiple treatments on his left ha...

Baseball

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan -...

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge is one of the few people on Earth who can r...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated