Ukrainian tennis star Oleksandra Oliynykova used her first-round press conference at the French Open to launch a scathing attack on Russian players competing on tour. The world No. 65, who defeated Russian qualifier Elena Pridankina on Tuesday, claimed that Russian athletes are 'participating in propaganda' and called for sports organisations to take action.
Oliynykova, who first gained attention at this year's Australian Open for her face tattoos and outspoken views, said that the presence of Russian players on the tour is 'very triggering' for Ukrainians. She pulled out her phone to show journalists photos of destroyed tennis courts in Ukraine, blaming Russian attacks for the damage. 'We need to stop pretending like nothing is happening,' she said.
The 25-year-old revealed that her father, Denis, who serves in the Ukrainian army, was courtside to witness her first Grand Slam main-draw victory. 'It's very important for me, my father saw my first Grand Slam win in real life,' she said. Her family fled Ukraine for Croatia in 2011 but have since returned to Kyiv.
Oliynykova also criticised the silence from other players, stating that no Russian colleagues had spoken to her about the war. 'This silence on tour, for me, it's very triggering,' she said. Russian and Belarusian players have been competing as neutrals since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a policy that Oliynykova described as giving them a 'platform for publicity and money'.
