Australian Open 2026: Novak Djokovic, Elina Svitolina, Damir Dzumhur & Oleksandra Oliynykova on forging careers from humble beginnings

The struggles of rising to the top in professional tennis are well-documented. Novak Djokovic, Elina Svitolina, Damir Dzumhur and Oleksandra Oliynykova have all faced incredible odds to achieve their goals, with financial constraints being a significant hurdle.

Growing up in war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina during the 1992 conflict had a profound impact on Dzumhur's life. The country was devastated, and tennis courts were scarce. His first steps on the court were in a small school gym, where he played alongside football and basketball players. It wasn't until he was 12 that he played on a proper hard court at a junior tournament in France.

Similarly, Svitolina's path to success was aided by businessman Yuriy Sapronov, who sponsored her move to Kharkiv when she was just 12 years old. The deal allowed her to receive professional coaching, and in return, Sapronov would receive a cut of her future earnings. Today, Svitolina is a top-10 player and an ambassador for several companies.

Oleksandra Oliynykova's story is one of resilience and determination. Leaving Ukraine as a child due to the conflict with Russia had a profound impact on her life. She faced numerous challenges, including a lack of electricity and water in her apartment. Her first-round appearance at the Australian Open earned her $150,000, which will help both on and off the court.

The story of Damir Dzumhur is one of perseverance. Born in Sarajevo during the conflict, his family had to flee due to the constant bombing of their home city. His mother's pregnancy was interrupted by the bombing of a hospital two days after she gave birth. The small school gym where he played tennis became his first step on the court.

The journey to success is not easy, but these players have proven that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Their stories serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere.
 
I'm like totally inspired by these young athletes πŸ™Œ! I mean, can you even imagine having to play tennis in a small school gym during wartime? Damir's story is so heartbreaking, but also super motivating - he never gave up on his passion for the sport, and look at him now! 😊 And Oleksandra's story of resilience is just wow... I'm literally getting chills thinking about how hard it must have been to leave her home due to the conflict. But you know what? She made it out alive and achieved so much - that's true strength 🌟. We need more people like these tennis players in our lives, reminding us that with dedication and perseverance, we can overcome anything πŸ’ͺ.
 
πŸ™Œ Can't help feelin' bad for these young athletes who've been through so much already πŸ˜” I mean, imagine growin' up in war-torn Bosnia or dealin' with a conflict in Ukraine 🀯 Damir Dzumhur's story is especially heartbreaking - his mom gets bombed just days after havin' him, and he's forced to play tennis on some dodgy school gym floor 🏟️ Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina's got her rich sponsor Yuriy Sapronov lookin' out for her, which is super lucky πŸ’Έ But at the end of the day, these players are still human beings with dreams, just tryin' to make a livin' in one of the toughest sports around 🌟
 
😊 I mean, can you believe how tough some of these tennis players had it growing up? Like, Damir Dzumhur's family had to escape Bosnia during the war and his mom's birth got ruined by a bombing... that's crazy πŸ’₯. But they all made it through and now they're top players. It's so inspiring to see them overcome obstacles like financial struggles, war, and other challenges. 🌟 I think we can all learn from their determination and perseverance. And for Elina Svitolina, she was lucky to have a sponsor who helped her out when she was just 12... talk about support! πŸ‘ It's not always easy to make it to the top, but these players are proof that with hard work and good luck, anything is possible 😊.
 
Man 🀯 I'm low-key inspired by these tennis players rn 😩 Damir Dzumhur's story about playing in a school gym during the war in Bosnia is wild πŸŒͺ️ and Oleksandra Oliynykova's determination to keep going despite everything she faced as a kid is straight fire πŸ”₯ Novak Djokovic, Elina Svitolina, and others might be killing it on the court but these players are truly overcoming obstacles πŸ’ͺ. I'm all about that underdog energy πŸ• and I love how they're showing us that with hard work and perseverance, we can achieve our dreams πŸ’«
 
I don’t usually comment but I gotta say, Damir Dzumhur's story is honestly so inspiring πŸ™Œ. Growing up in the middle of a war and having to play tennis on a school gym floor sounds like something out of a movie. But you know what? He made it work and now he’s a pro tennis player! It just goes to show that with determination and hard work, anything is possible πŸ’ͺ. And I think we can all learn from his story - life isn’t always easy, but if you find something you love and work towards it, you can achieve your dreams 🎾.
 
I mean, can you even imagine having to navigate the crazy world of professional tennis without access to proper facilities or resources? Like Damir's story is so wild - he had to play in a small school gym alongside football and basketball players, and then his family had to leave Sarajevo because of the war. It's insane that he was still able to pursue tennis as a career. And Elina's situation isn't that different, her sponsors really helped her out when she was just 12 years old. But you know what's even crazier? The fact that all these players have overcome such huge obstacles and are now doing amazing things for themselves and others. It's so inspiring to see! πŸ’ͺ🏽😍
 
I'm not buying into this whole "rags-to-riches" narrative πŸ€‘. These tennis stars' success wasn't just down to their own hard work and dedication... it's also about having a patron with deep pockets willing to take a chance on them πŸ€‘. I mean, come on, Svitolina got sponsored by some businessman to move to Ukraine at 12? That's not exactly the same as grinding it out from scratch, is it? And don't even get me started on Oliynykova leaving her home country because of war... that's a whole different story πŸ€”. It's easy to romanticize their success when you're not the one dealing with real-world complications.
 
πŸ™ It's so inspiring to see these talented athletes rise above their struggles and achieve their dreams 🌟. I mean, can you imagine growing up in a war-torn country with limited access to sports facilities? 🀯 And yet, they found ways to pursue their passion for tennis despite the odds πŸ˜…. Damir Dzumhur's story is especially heart-wrenching, given his mom's traumatic experience just days after giving birth 🌹. It just goes to show that even in the darkest of times, there's always hope and a chance for redemption πŸ’ͺ. And I love how these players have used their platforms to raise awareness about social issues and support their communities πŸ’•. They're not just winners on the court, but also role models off it πŸ™Œ.
 
man... those guys are like real-life superheroes 🀯. i mean, can you even imagine having to deal with war-torn bosnia-herzegovina when you're just a kid trying to find your passion in tennis? damir dzumhur's story is so inspiring, but at the same time, it's heartbreaking to think about him growing up without access to proper facilities πŸ€•. and oleksandra oliynykova's journey is like, wow... she's been through so much already as a kid, and then you add on top of that being a pro athlete? that's just wild πŸŒͺ️.

and let's not forget about the businessman who helped elina svitolina get her start in tennis. it's crazy to think about how some people can turn their backs on the next gen and just profit off their talent πŸ’Έ.

anyway, these players are proof that with hard work and determination, you can overcome almost anything 🎾πŸ’ͺ. they're not just role models for athletes, but for anyone who's ever felt like giving up on their dreams 😊.
 
I gotta say, I'm getting a little tired of all these feel-good stories about tennis players and how they overcame war and poverty πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. Don't get me wrong, their success is awesome and all, but can't we focus on the actual challenges of making it to the top in tennis? Like, what about the mental health impact of constantly dealing with adversity? And don't even get me started on the sponsorship deals that come with being a pro athlete - it's like, you're only as good as your wallet πŸ’Έ. I mean, can we celebrate these players' success without also acknowledging the business side of things?
 
ugh this just makes me wanna cry my heart out 🀯!! thinking about all these talented people who have been through so much and still managed to achieve their dreams its like wow what can we learn from their story? that with hard work and determination (and a little bit of luck) you can overcome even the toughest obstacles! πŸ™ i mean damir dzumhur's mom was literally in the hospital when her baby girl was born and they had to flee due to bombing thats just heartbreaking but he still went on to become a pro tennis player 🎾 Oleksandra olinykova leaving ukraine as a kid with no electricity and water its like what does that even feel like? πŸ’” anyway i think we can all learn from their resilience and determination to chase their dreams theyre proof that anything is possible if you put in the effort
 
Can you imagine having to play soccer in a school gym because there aren't any tennis courts in your country... like Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war 🀯! Poor Damir Dzumhur's life was like something out of a movie, and now he's crushing it on the tennis court πŸ˜‚. I mean, who needs electricity and water when you've got a racket and a ball, right? Oleksandra Oliynykova's story is like the ultimate underdog tale – from no lights to making it to the Australian Open πŸ’₯! And Elina Svitolina's story is like, 'Hey, just because I'm sponsored doesn't mean I won't make it big' πŸ€‘. These players are proof that if you're determined, anything can happen... even if your home city is getting bombed 🀯πŸ’ͺ.
 
dude i feel like these ppl r real-life superheroes πŸ¦Έβ€β™‚οΈ...like damir dzumhur's story is literally heartbreaking - had to flee sarajevo during the war and his mom's pregnancy got interrupted by a bombing 🀯...and now he's a top 100 tennis player...same with oleksandra olinykova, leavin' ukraine as a kid and havin a hard time survivin without electricity and water, but she still managed to make it to the aussie open 🎾...these players r proof that w/ hard work and dedication, u can overcome ANY obstacle πŸ’ͺ
 
Tennis players have it easy compared to Damir Dzumhur's life πŸ€•... I mean, can you imagine being born in war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina? The fact that he even got to play on a proper hard court at 12 is crazy πŸ’₯. And what about Oleksandra Oliynykova, having to leave her home as a child due to the conflict with Russia? That's some serious trauma right there 😩. At least they have the sport to focus on... and let's be real, most of them still can't afford health insurance πŸ₯πŸ’Έ
 
awww this is so inspiring!!! i love how they overcame such tough circumstances to achieve their dreams 🀩🎾 damir dzumhur's story is especially heartbreaking, but his perseverance is truly admirable πŸ’ͺ oleksandra oliynykova's determination to succeed despite the war in ukraine is just wow πŸ’₯ and elina svitolina's story about having a sponsor who believed in her is just proof that hard work pays off πŸ€‘ novak djokovic's struggles with finances are super relatable too πŸ˜… i'm so glad we have these amazing athletes as role models, they're truly an inspiration to everyone out there πŸ’–
 
I gotta say, I'm still not convinced about all this sponsorship stuff πŸ€”. Like, what's really going on? Is Elina Svitolina just a pawn in some big company's marketing game? And don't even get me started on Damir Dzumhur's story - I mean, it's inspiring and all, but how much of that was actually his doing? His family fleeing due to war? That sounds like a super convenient plot twist πŸ™„. Meanwhile, Oleksandra Oliynykova's got some serious resilience going on, but can we talk about the bigger picture here? What's being done to help these athletes long-term, not just when they're winning or getting sponsored? It's all good and well to celebrate their successes, but let's not forget about the systemic issues that are still affecting them 🀝.
 
You know, I'm always fascinated by the underdog stories in sports... 🀯 Dzumhur's journey from a war-torn country with scarce tennis courts to becoming a pro player is like something out of a movie. And Svitolina's situation with Sapronov? That's some crazy business model right there. Like, I get that it worked for her, but it's not exactly the most altruistic arrangement πŸ€‘. And Oliynykova's story? Wow, that's heartbreaking. But inspiring too... I mean, who wouldn't want to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage despite all the odds? It just goes to show that with the right mindset and support, anyone can achieve their dreams... even in the face of adversity πŸ’ͺ.
 
I'm just worried about all these young pro's having to rely on some rich person for sponsorship or financial help just to get by... it's like they're trading their freedom for a shot at the top πŸ€”. And what happens when that deal falls through? Do they really have the skills and mental toughness to make it on their own? It's not all sunshine and rainbows, you know? I mean, Elina Svitolina is doing alright now, but how many others won't be so lucky? And don't even get me started on the pressure of sponsorship - it's a heavy burden to carry πŸ’Έ.
 
I'm just gonna say it... I think we need to stop putting our kids through all this stress from a young age just so they can make it big in sports πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. I mean, sure, Damir and Oleksandra's stories are super inspiring and all that, but what about their mental health? πŸ€” Their lives were literally turned upside down by war and conflict. And now we're expecting them to just bounce back and thrive on the tennis court? It's a lot of pressure, if you ask me. 🀯

And don't even get me started on Elina's story... I mean, yeah, Yuriy Sapronov was a good dude who gave her a chance, but let's be real, that's some shady stuff right there 😏. Sponsorship deals and all that can definitely create an uneven playing field.

But despite all this, these players are still killing it on the court! 🎾 And to their credit, they're making a difference off the court too - Oleksandra's story is really inspiring, for example... πŸ’ͺ So yeah, I guess what I'm saying is that while we should be supporting them every step of the way, we shouldn't forget about the sacrifices they've made along the way. πŸ™
 
Back
Top