Ukraine still ‘very proud’ despite end of Wimbledon run for Svitolina

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina waves to the crowd as she bows out of Wimbledon after losing her semi-final with Markéta Vondroušová. Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/AP

Ukrainians said they “could not be more proud” of their star player Elina Svitolina, who has been stopped in her extraordinary run at Wimbledon by the Czech Markéta Vondroušová.

Vondroušová became the first unseeded women’s Wimbledon finalist since Billie Jean King in 1963, holding off a second-set fight back by Svitolina in the semi-finals. Vondroušová made a triumphant return to her second career grand slam final with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. Speaking after the match, Vondroušová said: “I can’t really believe [it].”