Overview
- Oleksandra Oliynykova used her Grand Slam debut to demand the ATP and WTA exclude Aryna Sabalenka and all Russian and Belarusian competitors.
- Oliynykova appeared after her first‑round loss wearing a T‑shirt reading, “I need your help to protect Ukrainian children and women, but I can’t talk about it here.”
- She cited Sabalenka’s 2020 support letter for Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko and described several Russian and Belarusian players as “dangerous people,” referencing a recent blast near her Kyiv home and her father’s military service.
- Tennis Australia said no venue rule prohibited her expression, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Australia and New Zealand publicly backed her stance.
- Asked about her comments, Sabalenka said she wants peace and had nothing further to add, while Daniil Medvedev said he respects others’ opinions; no ATP or WTA eligibility change has been announced.