The Brave Ones - True Warriors Battle at the French Open

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina vs Russian Daria Kasaktina

The familiar line between sunlight and darkness had begun to fall across Stadium Court at Roland Garros, signaling the evening was coming. Just another obstacle for Elina Svitolina and Daria Kasaktina to navigate, two warriors fighting with everything they had to survive the round of 16 and make it to the coveted quarter-finals.

Elina, unranked but with top-20 world pedigree, was working her way back to elite form after recently giving birth. Daria, currently the world’s 9th ranked player, should have been favored to win. She’d made her first semi-final appearance here in Paris just last year, and had played solidly through this clay court season.

But Daria had something else working against her. She hails from a place the world has come to see as synonymous with aggression, misinformation and evil. And as their top ranked player, she carries that burden with every stroke of her racket. Her opponent, a Ukrainian, has publicly taken the stand that there would be no handshakes or pleasantries with any Russian or Belarusian competitors who represent the occupying regime that is every day further destroying her country without provocation.

With the entire crowd behind her, Svitolina played inspired tennis early and took the first set. The swirling wind, the difficult optics of the setting sun, and a second serve that lacked its usual snap all conspired to make the comeback Daria faced seem uphill. But the real gut punch was the hostility of the crowd, openly rooting against her at every turn, painting her with the same brush the world paints Vladimir Putin. Her eloquent pre-tournament statement declaring the war horrible and unjust, and her expression of deep understanding and respect for her Ukrainian opponent's decision not to acknowledge her, would not be enough to spare her from this hostile reception.

But Kasaktina began to find a rhythm by counter-punching. After going down a second-set early break, she broke back. And a slugfest began, where both fighters found they could not knock out the other.

s the sun set and the tension built, Elina Svitolina and an entire stadium full of supporters traded punches with the very alone Russian. The set would lumber to a tie-break, which would play to an even, very tense 5-5. And as much as the stadium crowd, and perhaps the entire world, would relish a symbolic trouncing of any symbol of Russia, this was still anyone’s match.

Finally, up 6-5 and after a long rally, Daria sprayed a final ground stroke long. It was over.

An overjoyed crowd erupted in adoring love and support for Svitolina and for her suffering country. I don’t know if Daria mentally prepared for this moment, as elite competitors must spend every critical moment just before losing striving to win. With all eyes on Svitolina, tearfully twirling decidedly toward the cheering crowd and away from the net, Daria managed the moment with uncommon grace and dignity. There would be no warm embrace. So much that could or should be said that would not be. Instead, Daria quietly acknowledged the line judge, then turned Elina’s way, and gave her a competitors salute. A “thumbs-up” with an expression that conveyed what words could not.

Daria Kasaktina recently came out as gay. Thankfully (and finally) in this country and in most parts of the free world, that fact might no longer be particularly newsworthy. But when you live in a place where homophobia runs rampant, and the human rights of those who espouse to live their truth in a way that the majority simply does not choose to understand or acknowledge, that truth can be dangerous.

But Daria went even further. She didn’t just come out. She took the opportunity to use her public profile to call out the Russian government for their hostility toward the LGBTQ community. That stance, coupled with her very outspoken opposition to the war in Ukraine, prevents Daria from safely going home to vist her parents, whom she has not seen since before the war began. Openly speaking truth to power, something we take for granted in this country, has cost Daria everything.

In the post-match press conference, Elina referred to her Russian opponent this way. "She’s a brave one."

Daria left Paris disappointed, and perhaps a little bitter as the roughing up she got from the crowd. Here is what she said at the presser: “Be better. Love each other. Don’t spread hate. Try to make this world better. I will love RG (Roland Garros) no matter what, always and forever. See u next year.”

It takes brave people to move society forward.

Be a brave one!