Oleksandra Oliynykova will not separate her Grand Slam success from advocacy for Ukraine
Oleksandra Oliynykova, a Ukrainian tennis player, emphasizes her commitment to advocating for her country amidst her Grand Slam success. She has been vocal about the impact of Russia's invasion on her life and sport, directly criticizing fellow players for their associations with the Russian government. Despite facing threats from the WTA for her outspoken views, she remains determined to speak out against the war and support her fellow Ukrainians.
- ▪Oliynykova has criticized prominent tennis players for their ties to the Russian government.
- ▪She has faced threats of fines and disqualification from the WTA for her comments.
- ▪The WTA has acknowledged the impact of the war on its athletes and supports their right to express their views.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oleksandra-oliynykova-not-separate-her-091606318.html","headline":"Oleksandra Oliynykova will not separate her Grand Slam success from advocacy for Ukraine","datePublished":"2026-05-30T09:16:06.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-30T09:16:06.000Z","keywords":["Oleksandra Oliynykova","Ukraine","Diana Shnaider","Daniil Medvedev","tennis players","WTA Tour","war in Ukraine","French Open","Marta Kostyuk"],"description":"PARIS — First you notice the body art. Stars across the cheeks. Piercings in the upper lower lip. Tattoos on her neck and chest and down her left arm.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Yahoo Sports.