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Elina Svitolina leads charity pro-am for Ukraine in Charleston

Ukraine's most prolific player emceed a charity pro-am at the Credit One Charleston Open to raise funds for the Tennis Plays for Peace initiative.

ByBaseline Staff

Published Apr 02, 2023

WATCH: Elina Svitolina has taken the lead in fundraising for her home country since the war started in a variety of ways.

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The Credit One Charleston Open is supporting Elina Svitolina in her return to tennis in more ways the one. Before the new mom takes the court this week for her first tournament in more than a year, she led a star-studded charity pro-am to raise funds for her war-torn homeland of Ukraine.

In support of the Tennis Plays for Peace initiative, 14 WTA pros played tennis with 24 amateurs from the Charleston area on Sunday, with Svitolina as emcee. In all, the pro-am raised $100,000 to support Svitolina's namesake foundation, which has been providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the country more than a year ago.

Svitolina was joined at the event by fellow Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, as well as players including 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, fast-rising American Alycia Parks, and Charleston native Shelby Rogers.

“I’m really thankful to all the players and the tournament to make this happen,” Svitolina said, per the WTA website. “It’s really important to continue helping Ukrainian people. This is really special that we can help in many different ways.”

“It’s so great to see everyone coming together to support my home of Ukraine," Kalinina added. "Events like these are so important to keep Ukraine top of mind, and we appreciate the help of the community here. Thank you to the Credit One Charleston Open for organizing.”

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“Increasing awareness and raising funds for Ukraine is very important to us as a tournament and to our players,” tournament director Bob Moran said in a statement. “We are passionate about working with Elina, who has a deep and personal understanding of the needs in her home country right now, to further exemplify the mission of Tennis Plays for Peace and stand united with Ukraine.”

Svitolina received a wild card for the WTA 500 this week in Charleston, the first tournament she's playing since last March, and the October birth of her and husband Gael Monfil's daughter, Skaï. She faces Yulia Putintseva in the first round.