Athletes hail the chance to compete at an Olympic Games as a chance to compete for something bigger than the individual.
In her third Games, Elina Svitolina is competing for something bigger than most.
As a player from a nation two years into the throes of war on home soil, the Ukrainian was a woman on a mission on the grounds of Roland Garros on Monday when she produced the biggest upset so far of the women’s event against American fifth seed Jessica Pegula, 4-6 6-1 6-3.
The site of her first two Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2015 and 2017, Roland Garros was where Svitolina impressed in her return from a maternity break last year when she beat ninth seed Daria Kasatkina for her fourth quarterfinal in Paris.
Back on the terre battue at Porte d’Auteuil, her quest for a prized Olympic gold lifted a notch when she secured just her second win in six attempts against the American, setting a third-round showdown against this year’s Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.
At 29 years old, the former world No.3 was aware this could be her last realistic tilt at an unlikely triumph.
"I have the experience of playing in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020,” the 31st seed told Ukrainian press ahead of her campaign in Paris.
“I am very happy to be back on the court and have the opportunity to perform at the Games once again. When I first started working out after having my daughter, this was my No.1 task.
“The Games have always been a separate theme and a special motivation for me. Here I play for my country. This is so important to me, especially in such a difficult time … I hope that the Olympics will turn out well for me as Tokyo did.”
At Paris 2024, her feats on court and her humanitarian efforts off it, particularly in raising vital funds for her country through her foundation, led to her selection alongside swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk as Ukraine’s flag-bearers at the opening ceremony.
“To be among so many great Ukrainian athletes, it’s always been such a privilege to represent Ukraine,” Svitolina said at the draw ceremony.
“It’s a huge motivation for me to play well, to compete, to really fight for the wins towards a medal, to finally know I could have this moment to win the first gold medal in tennis for Ukraine.”
Three years ago, Svitolina spent almost 14-and-a-half hours on court, including two hours and 24 minutes against Elena Rybakina in the match for Olympic bronze in the Japanese capital.
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In her Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, she scored her first win in five attempts against then world No.1 Serena Williams before she fell short against Petra Kvitova.
A third straight Olympic quarterfinal is on the line when she attempts to avenge her 2021 Roland Garros defeat to Krejcikova.
As one of just 140 athletes in the blue and gold in Paris – Ukraine’s smallest representation at a summer Olympic Games – Svitolina was competing for a bigger cause this time around.
“It’s a great honour, and an even greater responsibility,” Svitolina told Associated Press.
“Now I compete for the world’s awareness and attention, which, in war context, is a much greater reward.”