The gripping story of Oliynykova, the only tennis player who lives and trains in Ukraine

Pedro de Pablos | 4 Feb 2026 | 07.30

The poignant story of Oliynykova, the only tennis player who lives and trains in Ukraine

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Oleksandra Oliynykova is a one-in-a-million tennis player, the protagonist of a story that would shake even the coldest person. The Ukrainian tennis player competed in her first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open a few weeks ago, and in every interview and tournament, she demonstrates values and loyalty to her country that very few people would be willing to face, being the only player living and training in Ukraine at present.

While her father fights in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Oliynykova strives to do her best in every tournament to climb the rankings and make her story reach more people. Motivated to give a voice to the Ukrainian people, Oleksandra won three consecutive WTA 125 titles last year that allowed her to break into the top 100, and in her Instagram bio, she has a link to help her father's military unit. Everyone has a purpose to reach the top, but hers is of greater significance.

"No other player lives and trains in Ukraine. Some come to Ukraine, but they do their preseason training elsewhere and live outside. The day before traveling to Australia, there was an attack in Kiev and my apartment shook from an explosion very close to my home. In the morning, I checked, and it was the house opposite mine that was hit by a Shahed drone," she confessed in an interview with Ben Rothenberg before the 'Antipodes Major' began.

The harsh conditions in which Oliynykova lives in Ukraine

Imagine living with a constant fear of a bomb falling on your house, or simply not having access to things that ordinary people consider normal in their daily lives. Well, that is Oleksandra's and her family's reality. "In my apartment, when there is no electricity, there is no heating or water. Sometimes we are without electricity for 15 hours." Fortunately for her, when it comes to training, they do not face these inconveniences, as they have a separate generator that saves them from such situations.

While the top-ranked players fight to win tournaments, she travels alone, with just enough expenses so that all she raises goes to the army and her father. "I don't feel comfortable spending all the money I earn. I live in Ukraine, I have many friends in the army, and my father is a soldier. When you don't know what will happen tomorrow, you don't feel comfortable spending money and traveling with a big team. I want to help the soldiers, so I will continue traveling alone."

Oliynykova calls for the disqualification of Russian players from tournaments

In the circuit, it is routine to see how Ukrainian players do not greet Russian players at the end of a match, but Oliynykova's opinion goes much further. "I think these players should be disqualified as in other sports. I find it very sad that people are losing focus because this is a long war. If you investigate, you will see that many players support Putin or Lukashenko, something very easy to find."

Nothing escapes the radar of the Ukrainian player, who studies every detail meticulously. "Many of them are not the people they show on television or on the tennis courts. Behind this, there are horrible things, and it is not right for people to ignore it. Their opinions and actions are dangerous, and they are some of the reasons why my apartment was shaking before coming here," she acknowledged.

Oliynykova refuses to greet Bondar for playing a tournament in Russia

A few weeks later, Oliynykova has reiterated her stance on players who have minimally supported Russia in this war, as seen in the WTA 250 Cluj-Napoca. The Ukrainian player faced Hungarian Anna Bondar yesterday and refused to pose for a photo with her or greet her after the match, demonstrating once more that she will not stand for it. From anyone.

"Anna Bondar participated in the North Palmyra Trophy in December 2022, a tournament held in Russia and funded by Gazprom, one of Russia's financial pillars in the war. Those are the same funds Russia uses to kill children and women in Ukraine, the same ones that destroy our country. Playing that tournament knowing everything that had happened is equivalent to playing in Nazi Germany in 1941 and being paid with jewelry from Jews murdered in Auschwitz," she stated.

Oliynykva, almost didn't play in Cluj-Napoca

Undoubtedly, some damning words; however, Oliynykova opened the door to make amends with Bondar as long as she publicly admits that she was wrong and that Russia is the culprit and Ukraine is the victim. In fact, due to this war, Oleksandra was almost unable to participate in the tournament, as she almost missed the train.

"I am very lucky to compete in this tournament because due to the Russian attacks, I was trapped in the elevator two hours before my train was scheduled to depart. I arrived with just ten minutes to spare, so I was very lucky," she revealed after finishing her match. Undoubtedly, a warrior with a story that further emphasizes all she is achieving, and above all, the purpose for which she does it.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La estremecedora historia de Oliynykova, la única tenista que vive y entrena en Ucrania