“Everything I have written now puts me at risk" - Oliynykova threatened by WTA after calling out tennis talents surrounding war in Ukraine

Oleksandra Oliynykova has found herself in the news a lot in 2026, and not all to do with her impressive rise in the sport. After formerly calling out Aryna Sabalenka and Daniil Medvedev over their support of the war in Ukraine, she has claimed that the WTA had pressured her to depersonalise her statements or risk being fined or disqualified.

The Ukrainian is an unmissable character on court. From regularly utilising the moonball tactic to her tattoos she has stand her out from the rest of the field. She has also enjoyed some deep runs this year, debuting in the top 100. She qualified for the Australian Open, reaching the first round before losing to reigning champion Madison Keys. Other notable runs include the semi-final of the Transylvania Open and the final of a WTA 125 event.

She currently sits 70th in the world after reaching a high of 66 earlier this year. Oliynykova will hope to make more progress within the next weeks and months, but with more recognition comes a platform where people will listen to you.

Oliynykova has made the most of this, sharing her support for her country in these tough times while calling out certain Russian and Belarusian players on tour. This includes world number one Sabalenka for her support of the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and slamming Medvedev for competing in an exhibition event organised by Gazprom in Russia, featuring a number of Russian talents. Others include Diana Shnaider for her support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Anna Bondar after she also competed in the Gazprom exhibition, refusing to shake hands with her in Rouen.

The 25-year-old has recently come onto Instagram to release a statement regarding the WTA coming to her and pressuring to stop mentioning players names as it could be harmful to them.

“I began to be threatened with fines of tens of thousands of dollars, with disqualification," she wrote. "My tournaments (before matches, during the event, after it ended) became accompanied by constant conversations with WTA representatives, who would come to 'educate' me on how I should speak - or rather, how I should stay silent.”

These jabs by the WTA have not forced her to go back in her shell, knowing that this statement could put her under more risk but willing to get her voice across.

“Everything I have written now puts me at risk. I will likely not receive an answer as to why I am being sanctioned for stating the fact that there are players who participate in Russian propaganda, attend propaganda tournaments, take blood money, and normalise the war for ordinary Russians - who then go on to kill innocent people in Ukraine - and yet they continue to play without consequence.”

While all this conflict continues, she vowed to keep speaking up in support of her own country. “I am still here. And I will speak. I will not accept being forced into silence. I know that no matter who tries to convince me otherwise, human solidarity will protect me.”