Ukrainian Tennis star Elina Svitolina announced Monday in an Instagram post that she is withdrawing from the Monterrey Open in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Svitolina, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, announced her decision to withdraw from Tuesday’s tournament on social media. The 27-year-old is slated to face Russian Anastasia Potapova in the first round.
Svitolina then called upon the ATP, WTA and ITF to "follow the recommendations" of the International Olympic Committee and treat Russian and Belarusian players as “neutral athletes, without displaying any national symbols, colours, flags or anthems.”
Svitolina concluded with a statement directed toward all Russian and Belarusian athletes.