Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova Blasts Russian Players for Choosing to Remain Silent: “They Are Active Vladimir Putin Supporters”

Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova is using her platform a lot to talk about the sufferings of the people of her country due to the war against Russia. She expects the same from the Russian and Belarusian players as well, but as several of them are choosing not to talk about it, Oliynykova harshly criticized them for it.

Oliynykova clinched her first Grand Slam match win on Tuesday (May 26th). She defeated Russia’s Elena Pridankina 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the French Open. Then at the press conference, the 25-year-old slammed the Russian players for choosing to remain silent and accused them of supporting President Vladimir Putin.

And the thing is that these players here, they are a part of propaganda. They are staying silent, and by [doing] this, they are supporting the regime. They’re giving their agreement to the regime. Many players are actively participating in propaganda. By their activity on social media, by participation in the Gazprom tournament, they are active Putin supporters.

Several players participated in the Northern Palmyra Trophies, an exhibition event in St. Petersburg. The event is funded by state-owned energy giant Gazprom.

Part of the reason [for the war] are the people who are participating in Russia propaganda. They are normalizing aggression against Ukraine. Regular Russians will see that their favorite tennis players—these girls and men here who we see, these famous people with a lot of influence and money, which they are earning on these tournaments—they are kind of re-investing this [influence], if you understand me, [in] support of propaganda.

Oleksandra Oliynykova added

Oliynykova was also asked about the return of the Russian flag in some competitions. According to Oliynykova, the Russian flag is a symbol of terror, comparing it to a swastika.

Oleksandra Oliynykova’s father watched her clinch her career’s first Grand Slam match win

At the press conference after her first-round win, Oleksandra Oliynykova took out her phone and showed a picture of a tennis center hit by Russian bombs. She used to train in those bombed-out courts in her youth.

She also revealed that her father attended her first-round match because he is on leave from the Ukrainian army. He was also there when Oliynykova, during the Strasbourg Open, handed the walkover to Marie Bouzkova in the round of 16. After winning in the first round in Paris, Oliynykova took a Ukrainian flag and ran to her father.

It was very important for me that my father saw my first Grand Slam win in real life. When I finished the match, I took the Ukrainian flag, and I came to my father, and I said, ‘You saw it! You saw my first win in a Slam.’ Yeah, that’s very special; my first match, I’m going to win it only once. I’m very happy.

Oliynykova was also asked how Russian players acted toward her in private. She said these players don’t really care that people in her country are dying. Oliynykova also made it clear that she is competing for no publicity or money. She said she will donate the money she would earn from this French Open to the army.

Oliynykova will next be locking horns with Kimberly Birrell, who upset 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in the previous round. This is not the first time Oliynykova played a Grand Slam main draw match. She made her debut at this level in this year’s Australian Open and lost the match to defending champion Madison Keys.

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