French Open Drama: Oliynykova Slams Shnaider’s Gazprom Links, Skips Handshake

Shnaider advances at Roland Garros 

Politics took center stage at the French Open as Diana Shnaider defeated Oleksandra Oliynykova. Oliynykova brandished photos of Shnaider at a Gazprom event and said “Everybody is silent about what this person did. It’s crazy.”

Diana Shnaider reaches French open 4th round after heated match with Oliynykova...

Diana Shnaider outlasted Oleksandra Oliynykova at the French Open on Saturday in a match weighed down by the shadow of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

World No. 23 Shnaider advanced to the fourth round with a 7-5, 6-1 victory. The buildup was dominated by Oliynykova, ranked No. 65, who accused her opponent of “taking money” from a “company financing war crimes.”

There was no handshake between the two players at the net after the match ended.

On Thursday, after setting up the clash with Shnaider, Oliynykova held up her phone in the press conference. She showed images of Shnaider at a Gazprom-sponsored event and pointed to some of the Russian’s social media “likes.” 

“This is her on the picture on the Gazprom tournament,” Oliynykova said.

“Gazprom is a company which is financing the war crimes...I think it's the same as playing in Nazi Germany for Gestapo officers on the tournament organised by (the) company which built Auschwitz. There is no difference for me.”

Last November, Shnaider took part in a team exhibition in St. Petersburg that was backed by Gazprom.

“Ask Diana Shnaider how she feels about the fact that Gazprom is financing the kids' camps, kidnapping kids and putting them into the camps. Ask her how she feels about this, and how she feels about taking the money from the company like this.”

“No one is talking about what this person did. It’s crazy,” Oliynykova said. She’s never faced Shnaider on the WTA Tour before, but she’s previously accused the Russian of backing President Vladimir Putin.

“She also put likes on the publications of Russian propagandists,” Oliynykova added.