Ukrainian Tennis Player Calls for Ban of Russian and Belarusian Athletes
Ukrainian tennis players are continuing to voice strong opposition to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions, even under neutral flags, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The calls for stricter measures come as players compete at the Australian Open and other tournaments worldwide.
Oleksandra Oliynykova, who recently made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the Australian Open, has been particularly vocal. She reportedly refused to share a photo or even a handshake with Hungarian player Anna Bondar at a WTA 250 tournament in Cluj-Napoca, citing Bondar’s participation in a 2022 Russian tournament, the North Palmyra Trophies. Oliynykova described the event’s sponsorship by Gazprom, a state-owned oil company, as providing “funds Russia uses to kill and maim Ukrainian women and children, and to destroy our families and cities.”
Oliynykova went further, drawing a stark historical parallel. “From a moral standpoint, accepting Gazprom money in December 2022 is equivalent to playing in Nazi Germany in 1941 and being paid with property taken from victims of death camps. The same evil—just 80 years later.”
The debate extends to prominent players like Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, and Daniil Medvedev. Oliynykova has publicly criticized Sabalenka, accusing her of supporting leaders of Russia and Belarus and labeling her a “dangerous person.” She also took issue with Medvedev’s participation in an exhibition event in St. Petersburg in December, which was sponsored by Gazprom.
Sabalenka responded to Oliynykova’s comments following her second-round victory at the Australian Open on Wednesday, stating, “I have spoken a lot about that before, obviously. I want peace, and if I could change anything, I would definitely do that. Other than that, I have nothing else to say.” When pressed on whether the criticism was unfair, she added, “Listen, I’m here for tennis. It’s a tennis event. I have said enough in the past and just don’t want to talk politics here. Thank you.”
This isn’t a new development. Since the invasion of Ukraine in , Russian and Belarusian players have been allowed to compete as ‘neutral’ athletes on the ATP and WTA tours, with Wimbledon being a notable exception that year. However, Ukrainian players have consistently argued for a more stringent approach.
Elina Svitolina, Ukraine’s top-ranked tennis player, previously withdrew from a WTA tournament in Mexico in rather than face a Russian opponent, Anastasia Potapova. At that time, Svitolina called on the International Tennis Federation (ITF), ATP, and WTA to accept Russian and Belarusian players only as neutral athletes, prohibiting the display of national symbols.
Svitolina stated, “I believe the current situation requires a clear position from our organisations: ATP, WTA and ITF.” She added, “Accordingly, I want to announce that I will not play tomorrow in Monterrey, nor any other match against Russian or Belarussian tennis players until our organisations take this necessary decision.”
Svitolina emphasized that she did not blame the Russian athletes themselves, stating, “I do not blame any of the Russian athletes. They are not responsible for the invasion of our motherland.” She also acknowledged the courage of Russian and Belarusian players who have spoken out against the war, calling their support “essential.”
Other players, such as Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev, have also made individual statements. Rublev signed “No War Please” on a television camera after a win in Dubai, and Medvedev has become the men’s world No. 1.
The situation remains complex, with differing opinions on how tennis governing bodies should respond to the ongoing conflict. The calls for a ban, or at least stricter neutrality requirements, from Ukrainian players like Oliynykova and Svitolina continue to put pressure on the ATP, WTA, and ITF to reassess their policies.
