Russia’s Diana Shnaider Breaks Silence After Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova Accuses Her of Taking ‘Blood Money’

Oleksandra Oliynykova is no longer a part of the French Open draw. On Saturday (May 30th), Diana Shnaider clinched a 7-5, 6-1 win over her in the third round.

Oliynykova, even after revealing that she received threats from the WTA for accusing her fellow players of supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, could not be stopped. In every press conference, she talks about the sufferings of Ukrainians and criticizes those who participated in the Northern Palmyra Trophies exhibition event in St. Petersburg.

The tournament is funded by Russian energy giant Gazprom, which has supported the Russian war effort. In a recent interview, Oliynykova said the players who featured in the exhibition took “blood money”.

Also, according to her, playing in the tournament was the same as playing in Nazi Germany. Oliynykova also accused Shnaider of liking Russian propaganda posts on social media. When Shnaider was asked about Oliynykova’s accusations at the press conference after her win, she explained the reason behind her participation.

I haven’t seen any of her comments or press conferences. Speaking of exhibition tournament, I’m traveling all year round. Not seeing my family or my friends. I have only one opportunity to play in front of my family and friends. Just to spend a little more time at home. I see it as an opportunity just to show some good tennis for my family. It’s the only opportunity, so I gotta use it. About social media, I have no idea what she found. I have no idea.

Shnaider will be playing in the fourth round of the French Open for the first time. She will also be playing in the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the second time. The 22-year-old will play Victoria Mboko or Madison Keys next.

I guess I’m not gonna like any comments or any videos anymore on Instagram. Again, honestly, I don’t know what she found. I’m here to play tennis. Not talking about Instagram or video likes or anything else. I’m here to do my job. To play tennis. To show some good tennis.

Diana Shnaider added

Before this season, Shnaider had never made it past the third round of the French Open. She has so far won five singles titles from six finals. If she reaches the French Open quarterfinals, she will face one of the two four-time Grand Slam singles champions, Naomi Osaka or Aryna Sabalenka.

Oleksandra Oliynykova urges the WTA to sanction Diana Shnaider

Oleksandra Oliynykova censured the WTA for its silence. At the press conference after her Roland Garros exit, a tearful Oliynykova said Diana Shnaider should face sanctions for her participation in that aforementioned exhibition.

I want to stop the tour being so hypocritical by pretending they cannot do anything, because they have the mechanism. You can be sanctioned if you are participating in a tournament organised by a betting company, but if they have this mechanism, why will they not use this to the tournament organised by a war crimes sponsor?

Oleksandra Oliynykova said at the press conference

Also, at one of the press conferences, Oliynykova showed a photo of the tennis center where she used to train in her youth, which was hit by a missile. Her father, who is in the Ukrainian army, accompanied her to this tournament. Oliynykova still lives and trains in Kyiv.

She made her Grand Slam main draw debut at this year’s Australian Open, where Madison Keys denied her the win. Before her defeat to Shnaider, she defeated Elena Pridankina and Kimberly Birrell. The only time she made a semifinal this year was at the Winners Open, where eventual runner-up Emma Raducanu ended her run.

Also read: Marta Kostyuk Voices Safety Concerns After Zeynep Sonmez’s Injury at Roland Garros