Starodubtseva: “I want to be like Svitolina – she is a wonderful tennis player”

Ukrainian tennis player Yulia Starodubtseva In the first circle of the Open Championship of France, Hanne Vandvinkel from Belgium was confidently overcome. At the stage of qualification, the Ukrainian received the first sowing room, which means that she has lost very little rating points to get to the main grid directly.

“To be the first sown in qualification is not the most pleasant news. But I seem to be used to the selection, ”the Ukrainian woman said with laughter, who last year established a unique achievement, becoming the first tennis player in an open era who managed to qualify at all the seasons. “Of course, it would be better if my rating had allowed to get the base right away and I would not have to go through it,” she added.

“Last year, I was not even sown here, and there was much less confidence. But if you are qualifying at all four Grand Slam tournaments, then you feel that you can do it again.

My rating has grown after the tournament in Madrid, but it happened a little too late. Of course, it’s hard not to think about it, but I saw other tennis players. I know that the girls from the top 70 were the first sown in qualifications. One of them is my compatriot Diana Yastremskaya. She came to the semifinals of Australian Open. So everything is possible. She showed that it was real, ”Starodubtseva said.

The Ukrainian added that she is inspired by the success of her compatriots, who have been showing great results in Grand Slam in recent years.

“It is difficult for me to become the best tennis player of Ukraine,” Starodubtseva laughed. “But I’m proud of them. And I also want to add, be more stable. For example, as Elina Svitolina is a wonderful tennis player. ”

Yulia Starodubtseva also noted the support of other Ukrainian tennis players – Lesya Tsurenko, Nadiya and Lyudmila Kichenok – against the backdrop of a continuous war. Her hometown Kakhovka still remains under the Russian occupation.

“Ukrainians come and support us is very important,” said Julia. – It is reminiscent of the house, but at the same time, when you go to the court, you need to somehow push these thoughts away.

I still have a family … And it feels that they are just used to everything. They try to make the impression that everything is fine with them, though not in fact. They seem to give you a sense of security, sometimes they can even lie to you to be calmer. But it helps – just know that everything is fine with them. It is very inspiring. ”

In the second round of the qualifying tournament, Yulia Starodubtsev will play against Tamara Zidanchek from Slovenia.