Oleksandra Oliynykova has called for Diana Shnaider to face sanctions for her participation in a Gazprom-funded exhibition in Russia and the Ukrainian criticised the sport’s “hypocritical” governing bodies after her 7-5, 6-1 defeat by her Russian opponent.
“She doesn’t want to comment on the war, because if she says her opinion, it would be a very big scandal, but I showed you the proof,” Oliynykova said. “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?”
Oliynykova’s comments came after she had showed journalists images of Shnaider playing at the Northern Palmyra Trophies, an exhibition in St Petersburg last year. The event was sponsored by Gazprom, the Russian state-owned oil company. She also produced screenshots of Shnaider appearing to “like” pro-Vladimir Putin posts on Instagram. The Russian president is the key figure in the invasion of her native Ukraine which is now in its fifth year of conflict.
“The Gazprom tournament is a company which is financing the war crimes, and playing in the tournament which is financing the camps for kids,” claimed Oliynykova. “I think it’s the same as playing in Nazi Germany for Gestapo officers, or the tournament organised by the company which built Auschwitz. There is no difference for me. And the thing is that everybody is silent about what this person did.”
Shnaider had “no idea” about Oliynykova’s outburst. “I haven’t seen any of her comments or press conferences,” she said. “Speaking of the exhibition tournament, I’m travelling all year round. I’m not seeing my family or my friends, and I have the only one opportunity to play in front of my family, in front of my 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. I mean, it’s the only opportunity, so I’ve got to use it. About social media, I have no idea what she found. I have no idea, so I don’t have any comments on that.”
Oliynykova said she was contributing to the glorification of Russia: “She has these fanatic ideas, what she’s liking, the propagandists she reads, what I proved last time. The tournaments where she is participating, she knows what they are doing.
“They just have this glorification in Russia that they are above all the world, that they have this strong leader and everything. I mean, this is what their propaganda is saying.”
Oliynykova has emerged as the most outspoken player on Russia’s war in Ukraine since breaking in to the top 100 at the end of last year. Her father, Denis Oliynyk, who had once travelled with her on the lower rungs of the tour and accompanied her here in Paris, is a volunteer for the Ukrainian army, as is her boyfriend.
While most top Ukrainian players are based elsewhere, Oliynykova still lives and trains in Kyiv. “If I am going to be silent, I don’t understand what I’m doing here, and how could I if I will not try to do everything to help Ukraine to win this war, my life would be destroyed,” she said. “The people I love, they would be killed. I will be killed. I don’t see any other option for me.”
Oliynykova opened her press conference by reading out a speech explaining her decision to speak out so strongly: “I know that some people disagree with my actions,” she said. “I know that some people would prefer that I stay silent. But what I do is not about politics, it’s about humanity. When people are being killed, while children are dying, when violence is justified or celebrated, we cannot pretend that nothing is happening. We cannot look away. We cannot protect those who support or excuse such actions.
“Our organisation was not built by pioneers like Billie Jean King so that money and luxury could become the only values in women’s tennis. They wanted something bigger than that. They wanted us to have a voice, to inspire others to make the world better, to be role models for young athletes. Being a role model is not about the size of your bank account. It’s not about expensive watches, private jets, or luxury brands. A real role model has the courage to stand against evil.”
Naomi Osaka broke new ground by reaching the fourth round of the French Open for the first time, edging out the 17th seed, Iva Jovic, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4. The 16th seed will next face the world No 1, Aryna Sabalenka, in a clash between of two four-time grand slam champions. Sabalenka reached round four with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Daria Kasatkina.
