The echoes of war are reaching the tennis court, and a Ukrainian player is demanding accountability from some of the sport's biggest stars. Oleksandra Oliynykova, currently ranked world No. 92, has voiced a strong opinion: Russian and Belarusian tennis players who she believes endorse their countries' leaders should be barred from international competition. She has labeled such individuals as 'dangerous people.'
This call comes amidst a complex backdrop. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been prohibited from representing their nations in major tennis circuits like the ATP, WTA, and Grand Slams. While Wimbledon took a firm stance by banning them in 2022, this decision led to the ATP and WTA retaliating by removing ranking points from the prestigious tournament.
Oliynykova specifically pointed fingers at Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian world No. 1, and two prominent Russian players: Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, and the rapidly emerging talent Diana Shnaider. Oliynykova alleges that these players have either openly engaged with or publicly lauded activities and leaders associated with their home countries.
"These people have the power to speak out," Oliynykova stated in a recent interview, her words carrying significant weight after a notable performance at the Australian Open. "Not only do they not, but worse, many support Lukashenko and Putin, who are behind the explosion that shook my apartment in Kyiv." She continued, her voice filled with emotion, "It’s their fault that my country and my people are suffering. They support this, they finance this, they participate in Russian propaganda. It’s because of them that innocent civilians, women, children, are being killed right now in my country. It’s unacceptable. In fact, I feel like I’m living next to dangerous people."
But here's where it gets controversial... Oliynykova's accusations are specific. She claims Sabalenka signed a letter endorsing Belarusian President Lukashenko in 2020, during a period of significant protests against his rule. Furthermore, she alleges that Shnaider accepted an honor from President Putin after securing a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in women's doubles, alongside Mirra Andreeva. Oliynykova also criticized both Shnaider and Medvedev for participating in a December exhibition match in Saint Petersburg, an event organized by Gazprom, the state-controlled energy giant.
In response to these serious allegations, Sabalenka, Medvedev, and Shnaider addressed Oliynykova's comments during their press conferences. Sabalenka, aiming for her third Australian Open title, stated, "I want peace, and if I could change anything, I would definitely do that." When questioned about being singled out, the four-time Grand Slam champion reiterated her focus on the sport, saying, "I’m here for tennis. It’s a tennis event. I have said enough in the past and I just don’t want to talk politics here, thank you."
This isn't the first time Sabalenka has faced questions about her political stance. At the 2023 French Open, she famously responded to inquiries about supporting Lukashenko by stating, "I have no comments to you, so thank you for your question," and subsequently skipped press conferences. She later clarified, "I don’t support war, meaning I don’t support Lukashenko right now."
Shnaider, the No. 23 seed, offered a different perspective on her participation in the Saint Petersburg event. When asked about the honor from Putin, she questioned whether Oliynykova truly knew her or Andreeva, explaining that her primary motivation for playing in Russia was to visit her family, especially given her limited time at home. She emphasized her desire to showcase good tennis for her supporters.
Daniil Medvedev, the No. 11 seed, acknowledged respecting Oliynykova's views but chose not to elaborate further on the matter.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's top-ranked player, Elina Svitolina, when asked about the potential ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes, reflected on the ongoing situation. "The war has been ongoing for four years. I mean, we talked about it many, many times. The stand has been taken already. Decision has been made by WTA, ATP. Right now what we can do is go out there, try to perform well, try to represent our country in the right way, and use our voices to bring the attention, to bring the help, and to not forget that, you know, we can use our voices to bring the help, to bring the attention to our homeland."
Tennis stands out as a unique sport due to the significant presence of Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarusian players, leading to frequent on-court encounters that highlight the war's impact. As of the end of December 2025, the UN Human Rights Office had recorded over 55,600 civilian casualties in Ukraine, acknowledging that the actual number is likely higher.
And this is the part most people miss... The sport has seen other instances of players speaking out. Russian player Andrey Rublev famously wrote "no war please" on a camera lens shortly after the invasion. In 2022, Russian player Daria Kasatkina described the war as a "full-blown nightmare" and later defected to Australia, expressing her ability to "breathe" again after gaining citizenship. Several other Russian players have also recently changed their national affiliations, seeking to compete under different flags.
What are your thoughts on Oleksandra Oliynykova's strong stance? Do you believe athletes should be held responsible for the political actions of their governments, even if they don't explicitly endorse them? Share your opinions in the comments below!
