French Open 2026: Oliynykova Slams Shnaider, Demands WTA Penalties

Oliynykova calls for WTA ban on Russians backing war after Shnaider loss

After her third-round defeat to Diana Shnaider, Oliynykova read a prepared statement demanding action against Russian players who support the war in Ukraine.

Oliynykova says WTA must ban Russians who back war after losing to Shnaider...

Ukrainian player Oleksandra Oliynykova urged the WTA to penalize athletes who support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, speaking Saturday.

“They’re Russian players with terrible views. That’s the reality we’re dealing with on tour right now. I don’t think professional sport should keep accepting that,” Oliynykova said to reporters after her third-round exit to Russia’s Diana Shnaider at Roland Garros.

“If they don't want to hear and they continue to spread this propaganda, then there should be some mechanism in our tour to stop this.”

“They want to earn money. They want to be in public. They want to use this to support their dictators. That's what they want to do and what we need to stop to accept,” the 25-year-old added.

Oliynykova opened her post-match press conference with a prepared statement.

“I know that some people disagree with my actions. I know that some people would prefer that I stay silent. But what I do is not about politics, it's about humanity,” she said.

“Our organisation (WTA) was not built by pioneers like Billie Jean King so that money and luxury could become the only values in women's tennis. They wanted something bigger than that. They wanted us to have a voice, to inspire others to make the world better.

“We as players have responsibility that goes beyond tennis, because sports should always stand with humanity, and humanity should never be optional.”

“So Hypocritical” — Oliynykova’s Pre-Match Accusation  

Before facing her, Oliynykova accused 25th seed Diana Shnaider of “taking money” from a company she claimed was “funding war crimes.”

At her press conference Thursday after booking a spot to face Shnaider, Oliynykova pulled out her phone. She showed reporters photos of Shnaider competing at a tournament sponsored by Russian state energy firm Gazprom, plus screenshots of the Russian’s social media ‘likes’.

After beating the world No. 65 Ukrainian 7-5, 6-1, Shnaider said she had “no idea” what Oliynykova said about her before the match.

“Yesterday I was just practising and getting ready,” she told reporters. “So, yeah, I haven't heard anything. I don't know anything about what she said. Wasn't interested at all.

“About social media, I have no idea what she found. I have no idea, so I don't have any comments on that.

“Speaking of exhibition tournament, you know, I'm travelling all year-round. I'm not seeing my family or my friends, and I have the only one opportunity to play in front of my family, in front of my friends, just to spend a little more time at home.”

Oleksandra Oliynykova gave an emotional speech before her press conference after her loss to Shnaider, ‘When children are dying, when violence is justified or celebrated, we cannot look away… We cannot protect those who support such actions… Being a role model isn’t about the… pic.twitter.com/mTgcpwQtCQ

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 30, 2026

Oliynykova has made the topic a regular part of her comments on tour since the war began in February 2022.  

“The thing is that someone needs to react,” she said Saturday.

“I want to stop the tour being so hypocritical pretending they cannot do anything, because I said in one of my interviews, they have the mechanism.

“You can be sanctioned if you participate in a tournament organised by a betting company, but if they have this mechanism, why they will not use this for a tournament organised by a war crimes sponsor?”