Oleksandra Oliynykova, the rising Ukrainian tennis star, continues to make headlines for her strong stance against those she believes support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After accusing top players like Aryna Sabalenka and Danill Medvedev of backing the war, Oliynykova has now taken a stand against Hungary’s Anna Bondar.
Scheduled to face off against Bondar at the Winners Open, Oliynykova has made it clear that she will not shake hands with the World No.64. Her decision stems from Bondar’s participation in the 2022 North Palmyra Trophies, an event held in Russia in December 2022 and funded by Gazprom. Oliynykova equated accepting money from Gazprom to supporting evil, drawing parallels to receiving jewelry from Jews murdered in Nazi death camps.
The 25-year-old player, ranked World No.91, has been using her platform to raise awareness and funds for the Ukrainian army. At the Australian Open, she called out Aryna Sabalenka for supporting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and criticized Daniil Medvedev for participating in a Gazprom exhibition. Both players have responded to Oliynykova’s accusations, with Sabalenka emphasizing her desire for peace and Medvedev choosing not to comment.
Despite the controversies surrounding her off-court statements, Oliynykova remains focused on her tennis career. She started her campaign at the Winners Open with a hard-fought victory over Mayar Sheriff and is now set to face Anna Bondar in the round of 16.
Oliynykova’s outspoken nature and unwavering commitment to her beliefs have garnered attention in the tennis world. As she continues to use her voice to advocate for her country and speak out against injustice, her actions both on and off the court are sure to leave a lasting impact.
Edited by Riddhi Acharya
