TOP TIPS BUT STILL ELINA IS STUMPED
WORLD No.5 Elina Svitolina has been bowled over by Reece Topley.
Now Ukraine’s first ‘cricketer’ is ready for the test of becoming her country’s maiden Wimbledon champion.
The winner in Dubai and Rome this season met the England one-day specialist in a London gym – and admitted she thought cricket was curling.
But the Hampshire star, the son of former Essex bowler Don Topley, has proved a lucky omen by turning up for tournaments since they began dating.
He aims to be at Wimbledon today when Svitolina faces Ashleigh Barty, the Aussie who quit tennis to play a season in women’s Big Bash for Brisbane.
“I’m trying to learn about cricket because before Reece I knew nothing about it,” said the No.4 seed. “I even thought it was a different sport, with a brush and then my friend told me it was not this one. I knew nothing.
“I have been to a couple of matches, one in Australia, I understood nothing. Now it’s much better, Reece’s dad explained it a little bit more.
“At their house they have a training net, I was hitting a little bit with my backhand. I’m not that good.
“No one knew about cricket in Ukraine before I dated him, probably now it will start. When I had the media day in Brisbane I played cricket and everyone in the newspapers in Ukraine said I was the first Ukrainian cricketer.
“I’m trying to learn more because it’s his sport and when he has bad days I need to be aware and not ask stupid questions.
“Sometimes he comes to my matches, like before Dubai he came and I won the tournament. Before, I went to London to see him and I won the tournament so it’s a good thing. He will be here on Monday.”
Svitolina, 22, has won eight WTA titles. She has never got past the second round in five appearance here but is among the contenders with defending champion Serena Williams out.
“When Serena comes to the tournament she is always one of the favourites and now it’s more open,” she added. “I think there will be upsets. “I can speak only for myself, but I think this tournament is going to be very interesting.”