Oleksandra Oliynykova gave an impassioned plea for tennis to stand up against the “evil” war in Ukraine after facing Russian Diana Shnaider at the French Open.
The outspoken Oliynykova’s emergence on the WTA Tour this year has shone renewed light on the conflicts within the sport more than four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Russian and Belarusian players continuing to play under neutral flags.
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After a 7-5 6-1 loss to Shnaider, the 25-year-old read out a statement to begin her press conference, saying: “I know that some people disagree with my actions.
“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.
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“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. A real role model speaks when it’s easier to stay silent. A real role model has the determination to act when action is needed.
“We as players have responsibility that goes beyond tennis, because sports should always stand with humanity, and humanity should never be optional.”
Ahead of the contest, Oliynykova compared Shnaider’s decision to play in an exhibition event in St Petersburg the last two winters that is financed by Russian state energy giant Gazprom to “playing in Nazi Germany for Gestapo officers”.
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The match played out like any other at Roland Garros minus the customary handshake – a stance that Ukrainian players have taken against Russian and Belarusian players since the start of the war.
But the presence of eight extra security personnel around the small court seven was an indication that all was not quite normal.
“So many security here and I feel like nobody is talking about the fact that, when I will come back home, I will be attacked with drones and rockets,” said Oliynykova. “For me, this contrast, I feel really strange about it.”
The Kyiv resident’s father and boyfriend are in the Ukrainian army, and her run in Paris has been particularly special because her father has been on leave and able to cheer her on courtside.
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Fellow Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk was in tears on court after her first-round match following a drone strike that came within 100 metres of her family home, but she admitted she no longer has the energy to keep raising the issue.
Oliynykova feels she has no option, saying: “How can I get tired? This war, it defines my life, because my future is in Ukraine. Everything in my life is defined by war.
“If I will not try to do everything to help Ukraine to win this war, my life would be destroyed. The people I love, they would be killed. I will be killed. I don’t see any other option for me.”
Shnaider declared herself oblivious to Oliynykova’s comments and defended her decision to play in Russia.
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“I’m travelling all year round,” she said. “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 don’t know anything about what she said. Wasn’t interested at all.”
Oliynykova also accused Shnaider, who declined to voice her opinion on the war, of liking Russian propaganda posts on social media, to which the 22-year-old responded: “I guess I’m not going to like any comments or any videos anymore on Instagram.”
“She doesn’t want to comment on the war because, if she will say her opinion, it would be a very big scandal, but I show you the proof,” added Oliynykova, who has accused the WTA of trying to silence her.
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“Someone needs to react. I want to stop the tour being so hypocritical pretending they cannot do anything.”
The WTA said in a statement: “This is an extraordinarily sensitive situation, and we understand players will have strong personal views.
“All WTA athletes have the right to express themselves. At the same time, the WTA is committed to maintaining a professional and respectful environment for all athletes, regardless of nationality or country of origin.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
