ELINA Svitolina has given a dominating performance in the fourth round of Wimbledon despite horrific news back home, downing China’s Xinyu Wang 6-2, 6-1.

It was a classy performance from the 21st seed, who comfortably won all the key stats, including aces, double faults, winners and first serve in percentage.

This result came off the back of the Ukrainian learning of news mere hours earlier that her country had suffered one of its biggest missile attacks in its war with Russia in months. One of the targets was Okhmatdyt, which is a pediatric hospital in Kyiv, and there have been a number of deaths.

“I try to focus on my job and what I can control. Just do what I can,” she said post match. “At least my win today was a small light that brought a happy moment for Ukrainian people. I got so many messages. The people are thankful for my performance.

“Normally you think all day about your match and how you will play. Since this morning I felt in a fog with my thoughts and my feelings inside… all those images in my head about the children, all those horrible things.”

Svitolina will next play Elena Rybakina, who is now the only previous Wimbledon winner left in the ladies’ singles draw. She enjoyed a walkover to progress to the next round after her opponent Anna Kalinskaya had to retire with a suspected forearm injury. Rybakina was already leading one set to none and was leading in the second when Kalinskaya retired.

AROUND THE COURTS

It was not a good day for Rybakina’s countrywoman Yulia Putintseva, who was completely outclassed by Jelena Ostapenko.

Danielle Collins also had a tough day at the office, with the American 11th seed upset by 31st seeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova.