Shnaider Defeats Oliynykova in French Open Third Round

Ukrainian player Oleksandra Oliynykova lost to No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider 7-5, 6-1 in the third round of the French Open on May 30, 2026. Before answering questions at her post-match news conference, she read a prepared statement about the war in Ukraine.

"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," Oliynykova said. "When people are being killed, while children are dying, when violence is justified or celebrated, we cannot pretend that nothing is happening.

She accused Shnaider of liking Russian propaganda posts on social media and criticized her for playing in a Gazprom-sponsored exhibition tournament in Russia. " Shnaider said she had not been aware of Oliynykova's comments. "I don't know anything about what she said," Shnaider stated.

Regarding the Gazprom event, Shnaider said: "I'm traveling all year round. I'm not seeing my family or my friends. " Oliynykova vowed to keep speaking out about the war. "This war, it defines my life, because my future is in Ukraine," she said.

"My father, he's coming back to the army. " Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk fought back tears after her first-round win when she described learning on the morning of the match that a missile almost hit her parents' home in Ukraine. Kostyuk said she was feeling exhausted after speaking out against the war for so long but would continue stating her opinion.