Svitolina was left with emotions flooding through her mind after she beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-2 to seal a 2-0 victory over two-time defending champions Italy in the semi-finals of the women's 'World Cup of tennis' team event in China.
Svitolina, who lost to Paolini in last year's competition, has been one of Ukraine's highest-profile athletes, raising her political voice about Russia's invasion of her country.
"Just a really special moment for us, for Ukraine," Svitolina said. "We are going through difficult times back home — all the people. It's just unbelievable to get for the first time in a final."
At this stage last year, Svitolina was a set and 4-2 up before Paolini came back to beat her.
"It was a really tough loss for me last year here," Svitolina said. "So I really had to be focused and really step up my game."
Paolini was on a 10-match winning streak in the competition.
Earlier, Anhelina Kalinina had put Ukraine ahead 1-0 by beating Tyra Caterina Grant 6-3 6-4 on Grant's competition debut.
In Sunday's final, Ukraine will face Czechia, led by Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova and world No.1 doubles player Katerina Siniakova.
Eleven-time champions Czechia had beaten Spain 2-0 in their semi-final on Friday and also shut out Britain 2-0 in the quarter-finals.
