Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oleynikova voiced harsh public criticism of her compatriot Angelina Kalinina over her decision to compete in the doubles draw at the US Open alongside Hungarian representative Anna Bondar. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing Oleynikova's statement on Instagram. The incident unfolds against the backdrop of the tournament's record prize fund and a growing debate over how Ukrainian athletes use their international platform amid the war.

Grounds for the Resonance

The trigger for Oleynikova's outrage was Anna Bondar's participation in 2022 in the exhibition tournament 'Trophies of the Northern Palmira' in Saint Petersburg. According to the Ukrainian player, any participation in such events makes a foreign athlete part of the aggressor country's propaganda system. 'Russian athletes are part of a bloody system. Those who are not Russians but travel to propaganda tournaments for the money of companies that sponsor war crimes are consciously becoming part of this system,' Oleynikova stated, adding that she saw a Ukrainian paired with such an athlete at the US Open and noticed 'no reaction, outrage, or even a desire' from those around her.

Oleynikova's Position

It should be noted that Oleynikova herself crossed paths with Bondar on the court twice this year — winning once and losing once. In both cases she refused the post-match handshake, which underscores the consistency of her stance. Six Ukrainians were included in the preliminary entry for the US Open doubles draw, and it was in this context that Oleynikova directed her criticism at Kalinina, who, paired with Bondar, made it into the tournament's entry list.

The 'Resource' of Ukrainians in the Top 100

Oleynikova also emphasized that sporting records — in particular, the presence of several Ukrainians in the world's top 100 — lose their meaning if the players' popularity and financial resources do not work toward helping Ukraine. 'You can have ten Ukrainians in the top 100 and set a bunch of records — but it carries weight only when your popularity, money, and voice are also a resource. This is millions for the Ukrainian army that were not collected. Because around it is a beautiful tennis life. Tournaments, photo shoots, victories. Don't touch it. Don't spoil the atmosphere. Don't ask uncomfortable questions,' she wrote. It was previously reported that Oleynikova stopped competing at the Cincinnati tournament, losing in a principled confrontation against 'neutral' Myra Andreeva.

US Open 2026: Lineup and Prize Fund

The women's doubles tournament at the US Open 2026 begins on September 3 and ends on September 11. According to Sport.ua, six Ukrainians were included in the preliminary entry for the doubles draw, and, according to the publication's assessment, seven representatives of Ukraine are in the world's top 100. Meanwhile, the US Open 2026 has set a record prize fund exceeding 100 million dollars, making the tournament one of the most financially significant events of the season and strengthening Oleynikova's argument that the attention and money around Ukrainian tennis should be converted into real support for the country.

Contradictory Data

Different figures appear in the publications, which is important to distinguish. In the text of the statement and in Sport.ua's materials, the reference is to six Ukrainians in the preliminary entry for the US Open doubles draw. At the same time, the Sport.ua headline points to seven Ukrainians in the world's top 100, while in Oleynikova's own quote 'ten Ukrainians in the top 100' is used as a rhetorical hypothetical example, not as a factual indicator. Thus, the difference in numbers (6, 7, and 10) reflects different metrics — the doubles entry composition, the actual number in the top 100, and a hypothetical illustration — and is not a direct factual contradiction; however, it requires careful separation when quoting so as not to conflate the entry list with ranking figures.