At the beginning of May, a charity event “Francesca Schiavone and Friends” was organized in Milan by the famous Italian tennis player, winner of Roland Garros 2010. Elina Svitolina has assisted the event because the funds received from the sale of the lots this evening will be donated to her charity foundation. Among them, the outfit of the first Ukrainian racket in which our sportswoman won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics last year, Gael Monfils’ racket, t-shirts of famous footballers Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella, Olivier Giroud and Sandro Tonali, gloves of Dida and Mike Maignan and Xavier Zanetti’s autographed captain’s armband. Flavia Pennetta’s sneakers, Fabio Fognini’s sneakers and racket, Yannick Sinner’s and Lorenzo Musetti’s shirts were available for auction. The event organizer, Francesca Schiavone, gave a T-shirt signed by Rafael Nadal and offered an hour of doubles play with her as a prize.
“It is very important for me to be in Milan today with the Italians, who are friends of Ukraine,” Elina Svitolina said at the event. – I am glad that Francesca had this great idea to organize such an event. In all ways, we try to help Ukrainians – both those who stay in their country and those who are refugees. These are terrible times for all Ukrainians and for me personally. I try to focus on the work of the foundation, helping people. We are getting together for a good deal.