“It’s very bad:” Ukrainian player attacked the world number one at the Australian Open

Sabalenkova’s management refused to respond to Oliynykova’s comments. This masthead has also contacted the WTA for comment. This blurb does not suggest that Oliynyk’s claims are true, only that they were made.

Oliynyk is a striking figure, sporting a temporary tattoo of blue flowers on her face during her Australian Open debut, along with permanent ink on her neck, arms and legs.

Before Tuesday’s match, her career prizemoney was just $230,000, compared to Keys’ $23 million. He will take home $150,000 for losing in the first round.

Oliynyková said that the presence of players from Russia and Belarus bothers her.

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

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“I feel so bad because it’s actually their fault that something happened to my country and my people.

Oliynyk said Sabalenka signed a letter supporting Lukashenko during protests in 2020, when he won an election that Western governments call a fraud, two years before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

At the 2023 French Open, Sabalenka was asked why she “signed a letter in support of Lukashenko” three years ago. She initially refused to comment, but a few days later she condemned the war.

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

After her loss to Keys, Oliyniyk wore a white T-shirt 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.

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

Oliynyk said she woke up at 3 a.m. the day before she flew out to the Australian Open to find her apartment building shaking after a drone strike hit her neighbor’s apartment.

It also condemned players who competed in a tournament sponsored by state energy company Gazprom in St. Petersburg. Among the stars of last year was Russian world number 12 Daniil Medvedev, who had previously distanced himself from the invasion of Ukraine. Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis appeared in the 2024 tournament.

Oliynyk said she did not talk to the Russian and Belarusian players in the dressing rooms, on the practice courts and in the cafeterias.

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

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

Oliynyk said she felt uncomfortable earning more money while her father and friends were fighting the war at home.

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

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Oliynyk previously represented Croatia as her family 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 text her.

“One of my very good friends, he’s a soldier, and he’s now, I’m not going to say where, but in one place where it’s really dangerous. And he watched my game there at night and he texted me and told me how amazing you were. And, you know, it’s something I don’t know, I start to cry.”

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