ROME (AP) 鈥� It鈥檚 more than just from Ukrainian players on the these days.
With and leading the way, there have been trophies to raise, too.
Svitolina鈥檚 Italian Open title over the weekend made it back-to-back WTA 1000 titles for Ukraine after Kostyuk鈥檚 Madrid Open victory two weeks earlier.
Three days after in the with Russia, Svitolina paid tribute Saturday during the trophy presentation to 鈥渁ll the people back in Ukraine who鈥檝e been supporting me, been watching at nights being in the bomb shelters.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really heavy for the past couple of weeks for Ukraine. 鈥� I feel all the love. Thank you. Slava Ukraini!鈥� Svitolina said after her victory over Coco Gauff, invoking the watchword of Ukrainians 鈥� 鈥淕lory to Ukraine.鈥�
The death toll from a on Thursday that flattened a Kyiv apartment building was 24, including three teenagers.
Likewise, in Madrid, Kostyuk finished her victory speech with 鈥済lory to God and glory to Ukraine.鈥�
Svitolina No. 3 in the race rankings
Svitolina鈥檚 third Italian Open title came eight years after her previous trophy in Rome. It also follows a maternity break in 2022 that made her work her way back from a ranking that year of No. 236.
She鈥檚 now back in the top 10 (No. 7) at age 31 and heading to the French Open, which starts on Sunday, as a Grand Slam title contender again.
In the season-long race rankings that take into account only this year, Svitolina is No. 3 behind only Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka.
Svitolina beat three reigning Grand Slam champions in succession at the Foro Italico: Rybakina (this year鈥檚 Australian Open champion) in the quarterfinals, Iga Swiatek (last year鈥檚 Wimbledon champion) in the semifinals, and Gauff (last year鈥檚 French Open winner) in the final.
鈥淭his is one of the toughest draws that I had in a tournament,鈥� Svitolina said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of the way that I鈥檝e been handling myself and handling the nerves and being consistent.鈥�
Kostyuk on an 11-match winning streak
Kostyuk鈥檚 victory in Madrid 鈥� the biggest title of her career 鈥� came immediately after she won another clay-court title in Rouen, France.
She due to hip and ankle issues but will go to Roland Garros on an 11-match winning streak
鈥淪he always has been a very strong player,鈥� Svitolina said. 鈥淣ow she鈥檚 more consistent.鈥�
Svitolina and No. 15 Kostyuk lead seven Ukrainians in the top 100 of the rankings.
鈥淭aking in consideration the war and everything, what鈥檚 happening in our country, I think it鈥檚 great inspiration for (the) younger generation,鈥� Svitolina said. 鈥淚t shows that it is possible. Especially for girls back in Ukraine, it鈥檚 a great example.鈥�
Still no handshakes with Russians, Belarusians
When Kostyuk beat Russian opponent Mirra Andreeva in the Madrid final, she didn鈥檛 shake her hand at the net. That鈥檚 been the protocol for Ukrainian players with opponents from Russia and its ally Belarus since the war started. Players from Russia and Belarus have been made to compete with neutral status and without their national flags
In a political shift this month, though, .
鈥淭he war is still ongoing. Still rockets are going to Ukraine,鈥� Svitolina said. 鈥淭hose two countries still considered aggressors. For us it鈥檚 very sad and very painful to see this even considered.鈥�
Svitolina’s husband Monfils to retire
While Svitolina has been winning more often on the court lately, her husband and French player Gael Monfils could get more attention at his final Roland Garros before he retires at the end of the year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be very, very busy, but in the same way I think very special for us as a family and of course for him personally,鈥� Svitolina said. 鈥淛ust going to enjoy and give it his best shot. The last one.鈥�
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