Main image: Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrating after beating Italy's Jasmine Paolini in the French Open on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on June 1.PHOTO: AFP
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has been shortlisted for the prestigious Heart Award, which honors outstanding performances in Billie Jean King Cup matches.
As reported by the tournament’s official website, Svitolina was nominated following the qualification round, where Ukraine’s national team made history by advancing to the tournament finals for the first time ever.
The Heart Award is presented to players who demonstrate "dedication to their national team, strength of character, and exceptional skill during Billie Jean King Cup matches." Svitolina exemplified these qualities with her victories over opponents from Poland and Switzerland, securing Ukraine’s place in the finals.
Alongside Svitolina, other nominees include Sonay Kartal (Great Britain), Ena Shibahara (Japan), Victoria Mboko (Canada), and Bernarda Pera (USA).
Fans can vote for Svitolina on the official Billie Jean King Cup website until 1:00 p.m. Kyiv time on Monday, June 9. The winner will be announced shortly after the voting closes and will receive a cash prize to donate to a charitable initiative of their choice.