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(Reuters) – Former world quantity three Elina Svitolina will make her return to the WTA Tour following her maternity break at subsequent month’s Charleston Open in South Carolina after accepting a wild card, organisers of the claycourt event stated.
Ukraine’s Svitolina, who final performed a 12 months in the past in Miami, is ready to return to motion following the start of her daughter Skai with husband and fellow tennis participant Gael Monfils.
The 28-year-old has additionally partnered with the event and WTA Charities to host a particular “Tennis Performs for Peace” pro-am occasion in April, benefiting war-torn Ukraine and the Elina Svitolina Basis.
“Rising consciousness and elevating funds for Ukraine is essential to us as a event and to our gamers,” event director Bob Moran stated in a press release.
“We’re obsessed with working with Elina, who has a deep and private understanding of the wants in her dwelling nation proper now, to additional exemplify the mission of Tennis Performs for Peace and stand united with Ukraine.”
The event hosted a pro-am in 2022 and raised $100,000 in donations for reduction efforts in Ukraine.
Svitolina, who has 16 WTA titles and is a two-times Grand Slam semi-finalist, can be joined within the Charleston discipline by 5 former champions together with holder Belinda Bencic.
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has additionally signed as much as play.
The Charleston Open will happen from April 1-9.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Modifying by Lincoln Feast.)