Ukrainian tennis star Svitolina nominated for prestigious Heart Award

What the Heart Award is given for

Svitolina's nomination follows the tournament's qualifying stage, where the Ukrainian team reached the final stage for the first time in history.

This award is presented to athletes who "have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on the court, and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the team during BJK Cup events." Svitolina stood out with these qualities by securing victories against opponents from Poland and Switzerland, which ensured Ukraine's historic advance to the final.

Alongside the Ukrainian player, the nominees include Sonay Kartal (Great Britain), Ena Shibahara (Japan), Victoria Mboko (Canada), and Bernarda Pera (USA).

Voting for Svitolina is open on the official Billie Jean King Cup website until 1:00 PM Kyiv time on Monday, June 9. The winner will be announced shortly after voting closes. She will receive a cash prize that can be donated to a chosen charitable initiative.

Recent matches of the Ukrainian team in the Billie Jean King Cup

In April 2025, the Ukrainian team competed in Group E of the qualifying stage in Radom, Poland.

The team included the top two Ukrainian players in the national rankings—Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostiuk—and the best domestic doubles pair—Liudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok. Katarina Zavatska, ranked tenth in Ukraine, was the reserve player.

The Ukrainian team defeated Poland (3-0) and Switzerland (2-1) during the qualifiers.

These victories and reaching the final allowed Ukraine to rank eighth in the national team rankings. Currently, the "blue and yellow" team is ranked 11th globally.

As a reminder, Svitolina will play against Iga Świątek in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros today.