Oleksandra Oliynykova continued her breakthrough season at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca by reaching the first WTA quarterfinal of her career, while also drawing attention for her decision to decline a post-match handshake with Anna Bondar.
The Ukrainian player defeated Bondar 6-4, 6-4 in the second round but did not approach the net after match point. She later explained that the decision was made in advance and was based on Bondar’s participation in the 2022 North Palmyra Trophies, a tournament sponsored by Gazprom during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Oliynykova said she viewed the sponsorship as morally unacceptable, describing Gazprom as a major financial supporter of Russia’s military campaign. She added that accepting such funding conflicted with her personal values and her experience as a Ukrainian athlete.
In a statement, Oliynykova said the money used for the tournament was connected to the suffering caused by the war and compared the situation to competing under morally compromised conditions in past conflicts. She also said she would have considered shaking hands if an apology had been offered, but none was received.
The incident reflects the continued impact of the war on Ukrainian athletes, many of whom have taken strong public positions in international competition.
Source: Daily Express
On court, Oliynykova’s performance in Cluj-Napoca underlined her rapid rise. Earlier in the week, she recorded her first main-draw WTA win by coming from behind to defeat Mayar Sherif. The victory over Bondar extended her run and confirmed her growing confidence at tour level.
The 22-year-old has built momentum since her eye-catching appearance at the 2026 Australian Open, where she gained attention for her energetic style and strong showing against defending champion Madison Keys in the first round.
Her results in Romania are expected to lift her to a career-high ranking, with projections placing her close to the world’s top 80.
Oliynykova will now face the winner of the match between fourth seed Wang Xinyu and either Elena-Gabriela Ruse or Rebecca Masarova for a place in the semifinals.
As her profile continues to grow, Oliynykova is establishing herself not only as a promising talent on the WTA Tour, but also as a vocal representative of Ukraine’s sporting community on the international stage.
