‘It’s very wrong’: Ukrainian player launches political attack on world No.1 at Australian Open

A Ukrainian tennis player whose home shook from a Russian drone attack hours before flying to Australia has taken aim at world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and other Belarusian and Russian players, claiming they should be banned by the sport because of their countries of origin.

Oleksandra Oliynykova, who lost to reigning champion Madison Keys on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday, wore a T-shirt after her match drawing attention to her campaign to raise funds to fight the war in Ukraine, and declared the presence of top Belarusian and Russian players was “very wrong”, despite the fact they do not compete under their countries’ flags.

Sabalenka, who was singled out by Oliynykova, has previously stated that she does not support the Russian invasion of Ukraine or Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“I think it’s very wrong that they are not disqualified in tennis like in other sports,” Oliynykova told this masthead.

“Because I know that here is the picture that we are, like all tennis girls playing, but the people don’t see the things behind it.

“And this is, you know, the people with money and power, and they are using this to support aggression against my country.

“They are the reason the people like this who have the power to speak up against they are not doing this.”

Belarus is a close ally of Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Sabalenka’s management declined to respond to Oliynykova’s comments. This masthead also contacted the WTA for comment. This masthead is not suggesting the claims by Oliynykova are true, only that they have been made.

Oliynykova is a striking figure who wore temporary face tattoos of blue flowers during her Australian Open debut, along with permanent ink on her neck, arms and legs.

Before Tuesday’s match her career prizemoney stood at just $230,000, compared with Keys’ $23 million. She will take home $150,000 for her round one loss.

Oliynykova said the presence of players from Russia and Belarus troubled her.

“Coming here where people they see just tennis, it’s like, happy pictures,” she said.

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“I feel so wrong because, actually, it’s their fault that something was happening to my country and my people.

Oliynykova said Sabalenka had signed a letter supporting Lukashenko during protests in 2020, when he won an election described by Western governments as a sham, two years before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

At the 2023 French Open, Sabalenka was asked why she “signed a letter to support Lukashenko” three years earlier. She initially declined to comment, but days later denounced the war.

“I don’t support the war. I don’t support Lukashenko right now,” Sabalenka said.

Oliyniykova pulled on a white T-shirt after her loss to Keys that read: “I need your help to protect Ukrainian children and women but I can’t talk about it here.” A Tennis Australia official said there were no rules prohibiting such statements.

Oliyniykova’s father is a soldier, and she is the only player at the Open who lives and trains in Ukraine. Her Kyiv apartment has no running water or electricity, but she refuses to leave the country and is raising funds for her father’s unit to buy drones for the country’s defence.

Oliynykova said the day before she flew out for the Australian Open she woke at 3am to her apartment block shaking from a drone attack that struck her neighbour’s apartment.

She also condemned players who competed in a tournament sponsored by state-owned energy company Gazprom in St Petersburg. Russian world No.12 Daniil Medvedev, who has previously distanced himself from the invasion of Ukraine, was among the stars who competed in last year’s event. Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis appeared at the tournament in 2024.

Oliynykova said she did not speak with Russian and Belarusian players in the locker rooms, practice courts and dining rooms.

“I don’t communicate with them. But, you know, people are not informed about this, and if I need to say it, I will, because I feel [it is] unfair.”

After losing her opening round match to Keys, she thanked the crowd making a heart symbol.

Oliynykova said she felt uncomfortable about earning more money when her father and friends were fighting the war at home.

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“You don’t feel like you can spend a lot when your father is in the army, when there is a war, and you don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” she said.

Previously Oliynykova represented Croatia as her family had fled Ukraine under the regime of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych.

Her father was a political refugee and the family lost everything after being forced to flee the country in 2011.

After the Revolution of Dignity the family returned to Ukraine. Her father was able to watch her match against Keys and sent her a message afterwards.

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