Elina Svitolina broke down in tears on court at Wimbledon after a Russian missile killed at least 30 people in Kyiv
The Ukrainian eased past Xinyu Wang 6-2 6-1 to book her spot in the last eight and revealed news of the attack, which included a strike on a children’s hospital, willed her onto victory.
Svitolina wore a black ribbon with the approval of Wimbledon authorities to mark the loss of life, and the 29-year-old admitted it was difficult for her to take the court.
“It's an incredibly sad day today for all Ukrainians,” said Svitolina, who gave a tearful post-match interview on No.2 Court.
“It was really difficult for me to really be here in a way and do anything. I just wanted to be in my room, just be there with my emotions, with everything.
“Today was one of the days where it was even more difficult because the missile landed on the hospital, the kids' hospital.
“Straightaway you see the images and everything that happened there. So many kids lost their lives.
“This is one of the things that motivated me today, was just I have to put my head down and show up and do my best, my very best.
“Every Ukrainian is using their own way to raise awareness, to raise money, to help in every possible way they can. My way is through tennis.
“At least with my win today, it was a small light that brought a happy moment for Ukrainian people. I got so many messages today. The people are thankful for my performance, for my win today.”
Svitolina will face world No.4 Elena Rybakina in the quarter-final after the Kazakh eased past Anna Kalinskaya after the Russian retired injured when trailing 6-3 3-0.
Rybakina is now the favourite in the women’s singles draw after a first week that saw big names such as world No.1 Iga Swiatek and US Open champion Coco Gauff suffer early exits.
Defending champion Marketa Vondrousova was also dumped out in the first round leaving Rybakina in the box seat to add to the Wimbledon title she won in 2022.
The 25-year-old boasts a stunning 90% win rate in SW19 and is the only previous champion remaining but the Kazakh is not getting carried away before her quarter-final match-up with Svitolina.
“It's still far to go to the final,” she said. “There are still a lot of matches in front. As I always say, it's just match by match and we see how it goes but definitely I want to go far and try to win it.
“I think last two matches, like today and the previous one, I played really well. I was less nervous than at the beginning of the tournament.
“I think every tournament you start, it's like first rounds are very tough, you are more nervous than other matches.
“I just played two very solid matches. I think I played really well. It gives more confidence. You kind of know what to do on the court. You are more free.”
Rybakina is one of only two top 10 players left standing, with seventh seed Jasmine Paolini the other.
The pair can only meet in the final, with Rybakina facing either Jelena Ostapenko or Barbora Krejcikova in the semi-final should she beat world No.21 Svitolina.
Ostapenko reached the quarter-final for the first time since her run to the last four in 2018 with a 6-2 6-3 win over Yulia Putintseva. The Latvian is yet to drop a set across her four matches so far and is looking for her first Grand Slam title since the 2017 French Open.
"I feel on the practice I was always playing really well. I was trying to bring these kind of things to the matches," said Ostapenko.
"I feel like I'm playing more my game, and especially in deciding moments I'm just going for the shots. I don't care if I miss it. I'm just playing the next one and the next one. I feel this way it's working much better.
She will face 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova after she upset 11th seed Danielle Collins 7-5 6-3. Collins was looking to join fellow American Emma Navarro in the last eight but was comfortably second best to her Czech opponent on Monday evening.
The 2021 French Open champion has never been beyond the fourth round at the All England Club before but has now reached the quarter-finals in two of the three Slams in 2024 after reaching the same stage at the Australian Open.
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