After competing in last week’s Zapopan Open, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina (world number 20) headed north to the WTA Monterrey Open to discover that she had been drawn against Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in the first round of the tournament.

At first, Svitolina, 27, refused to play the match, saying she would quit the tournament unless tennis’ governing bodies followed the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee “to accept Russian or Belarusian nationals only as neutral athletes, without displaying any national symbols, colours, flags or anthems.”

The Ukrainian decided to play after tennis authorities agreed to comply with the recommendation.

“I do not blame any of the Russian athletes,” Svitlolina posted on social media. “They are not responsible for the invasion of our motherland. Moreover, I wish to pay tribute to all the players, especially Russians and Belarussians, who stated their position against the war. Their support is essential.”

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