This video can not be played
Svitolina was emotional as she beat Wang
Elina Svitolina found it "extremely tough" to play her Wimbledon fourth-round match after Russian strikes killed dozens of people and seriously damaged a children's hospital in her native Ukraine.
Svitolina, 29, broke down in tears during an on-court interview after she beat China's Wang Xinyu to reach the quarter-finals.
She played the match wearing a black ribbon on her white outfit, knowing there had been mass casualties from the assault on her homeland.
"Today was one of the most difficult matches in my life," said Svitolina.
"Mentally it was beyond anything I have ever faced but fails in comparison to what my people at home are going through."
The 2023 Wimbledon semi-finalist is one of Ukraine's most prominent athletes and has spoken regularly about the impact of the war on her country.
After her 6-2 6-1 win, Svitolina said: "It was a good performance from my side and it's a very difficult day today for Ukrainian people."
Svitolina trailed off as she began to cry, with the court two crowd offering sympathetic support.
"It was not easy to focus on the match," Svitolina added.
"It was very difficult to read the news and just to go on the court it's extremely tough.
"I'm happy I could play today and get a win."
Svitolina will face 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals.
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina is a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist after runs in 2019 and 2023
Svitolina, a mother of one, said she did want to leave her room after seeing the news when she woke up.
At least 36 people were confirmed dead and 140 were injured as a result of Russian missile attacks across Ukraine on Monday.
The rare daytime attack killed at least 19 people in Kyiv, including two at the Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital – Ukraine's biggest paediatrics facility – which sustained major damage.
Svitolina, along with former Ukraine footballer Andriy Shevchenko and heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, is an ambassador for United24, a fundraising organisation sent up by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Earlier this year, Svitolina said many Ukrainians felt people have lost interest in their ongoing battle to repel the Russian invasion.
She wants to use her on-court success to maintain awareness but admitted she feels "guilt" at being happy for reaching a Grand Slam quarter-final.
"Many people cannot leave the country. Many people are at war. Many people are fighting, defending our front lines," she said.
"We've been living with this feeling for over two years. It's nothing new. But yes [guilt] is not a pleasant feeling to have."
American Danielle Collins' Wimbledon career ended in defeat as the 11th seed was beaten by Czech Barbora Krejcikova under the roof on Court One.
Collins, 30, announced in January that this season would be her last on the tour.
The former Australian Open finalist was on her best run at Wimbledon, playing in her first fourth-round match, but was beaten 7-5 6-3 by 31st seed Krejcikova.
Both players had chances in the opening set before Collins lost serve at 5-5.
She was then broken early in the second and needed a medical timeout after injuring her leg while trailing 3-1.
Former world number two Krejcikova, 28, broke twice more on her way to a convincing win.
The 2022 French Open winner is into her first Wimbledon quarter-final and will face a fellow former Roland Garros champion, Jelena Ostapenko.
Earlier on Court One, Latvian 13th seed Ostapenko beat unseeded Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-2 6-3 with a dominant performance.
Ostapenko's powerful hitting from the baseline proved too much for Putintseva – the player who knocked out top seed Iga Swiatek in the previous round.
This video can not be played
Kalinskaya retires during second set due to injury against Rybakina
Fourth seed Rybakina underlined why she is the new title favourite with a dominant performance against Anna Kalinskaya before her opponent retired injured.
Rybakina was 6-3 3-0 ahead on Centre Court when Russian 17th seed Kalinskaya left the last-16 match in tears having been unable to recover from a wrist problem.
Russian-born Kazakh player Rybakina is the highest seed left in the women's draw and will face Svitolina next.
Rybakina, 25, is the only former Wimbledon champion left in the women’s draw, and her bid has been strengthened by Swiatek and Coco Gauff featuring in a flurry of big names knocked out over the weekend.
Rybakina dropped serve in the first game of the match and trailed 3-1 in the opener, but she then won five consecutive games, with two breaks to love, to take the first set, and the procession continued until Kalinskaya forfeited the match.
Live scores, results and order of play
Get tennis news sent straight to your phone
Watch Wimbledon: Djokovic leads Rune by two sets and a break
Shaw 'fit and ready' to play 90 minutes for England
Who will win Euros? Insiders from last four give their verdicts
Coldplay light up the Pyramid Stage
The legendary band returned as Glastonbury headliners for a record-breaking fifth time
Global megastar SZA's debut set
Expect to be wowed by the critically acclaimed US singer's showstopper performance
Dua Lipa's unmissable pop party
Watch how the global superstar turned the Pyramid Stage into a gigantic dance floor
Country pop queen, Shania Twain, impresses Worthy Farm
The Canadian icon performed to thousands in the coveted Legends slot
Wimbledon run has 'fuelled the fire' – Raducanu
'Audacious' Sinner tops shots of day seven. Video
Who will win Euros? Insiders from last four give their verdicts
I thought it was never going to happen again – Hamilton
Qualifier Sun ends Raducanu's run at Wimbledon Video
England's best performances since 1996 – what's your favourite?
Navarro shocks Gauff to reach first Grand Slam quarter-final. Video
Highlights: England beat Switzerland on penalties. Video
Highlights: Netherlands come from behind to beat Turkey Video
'Like a Euros final' – 'insatiable' Spain a 'winning horse'
Wimbledon tribute – The best moments of Andy Murray. Video
Highlights: France beat Portugal on penalties. Video
Highlights: Spain score deep into extra time to knock out hosts Germany. Video
Chasing the 'Ghost' – a superstar struck down by lightning
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
