“In an interview with L’Équipe, Oleksandra spoke about the war in Ukraine and named specific names”, — write: sport.ua
– Why do you live in Ukraine, despite the danger?
– Because Ukraine is my source of strength, inspiration and motivation. I just want to stay home! I’m not one to run away. And my friends are there. I know that the situation is very difficult, but maybe it is all this, these feelings that I am going through, that make me stronger. My apartment sometimes has no electricity, heating or water. It’s hard, but you get used to it. Having all the modern conveniences is less important than being in your own country, close to your relatives.
– In what conditions do you train?
– The club is equipped with a generator, so it is energy independent. I can take a shower there when there is no water at home. In other clubs, where there is no such system, the children train in the dark, with only a few small lamps as the only source of light. So I am very lucky, although no other professional tennis player trains in Ukraine. I train with juniors, boys aged 17-18 or with girls who play against me as a pair.
– Are you traveling alone?
– Yes. I used to travel with my father, but in the summer of 2024 he voluntarily joined the ranks of the Ukrainian army. This is our home. We want to live in Ukraine. He went to serve because it is the best and only way to protect the future of Ukraine. While my father defends Ukraine, I try to get as much support as possible for our military, including playing on big courts. I can help my country by telling my story. I am incredibly proud of my father. He is a huge source of motivation. Since he joined the army, I have climbed more than 200 places in the WTA ranking. I know that he dreamed of seeing me on such courts. I will do everything to make him proud of me even more. By the way, he just sent me a message.
– Did he watch your match from Ukraine?
– Yes, it seems that this is the first match that he was able to watch in more than a year. He said it was incredible. I made his dream come true. What could motivate more? I don’t know. I know the guys in his unit watch my matches. They support me a lot. These soldiers who defend Ukraine live in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions… One of my very close friends, who is a soldier, is now in a super critical zone. And he watched my match at night. He wrote to me that I was incredible. I will stop there, otherwise I will cry (smiles).
– Several years ago you represented Croatia. Why?
– Because I lived there for many years. My parents and I were political refugees because my father protested against the pro-Russian president (Viktor Yanukovych). And he was threatened with imprisonment. His office was even attacked. That’s why we had to leave. We could have returned after the victory of the Revolution of Dignity (2014), but when we left in 2011, we lost everything. We have nothing left. Time was needed. Today I rebuilt my life again. I rent an apartment in Kyiv. I train there. This is part of what motivates me to achieve better results: not to return to Ukraine empty-handed.
– Will the prizes for the first round of the Australian Open, 150 thousand Australian dollars (about 86 thousand euros), help you in this sense?
– Yes, but, you know, when your father is in the army, when there is a war and you don’t know what will happen tomorrow, you don’t want to spend a lot. Many of my friends joined the army. They may be injured. Their houses may be destroyed. If I spend without limit, I will not be able to help them in times of trouble.
– At the Australian Open, as throughout the season, Russian and Belarusian players are present. What do you think about it?
– It hurts me a lot. This is a huge problem. I find it unacceptable that they were not suspended as they have been in other sports. Some would like to believe that we are all just tennis players, but it is not so: many of them support their dictator. And it is very easy to check. We are talking about people who have money and power. They use their image to justify aggression against my country.
These people have the opportunity to express themselves. Not only do they not do this, but what is even worse, many support Lukashenka and Putin, who are behind the explosion that shook my apartment in Kyiv. This is so unfair! Because of them, my country and my people are suffering. They support it, finance it and participate in Russian propaganda. Innocent civilians – women, children – are dying because of them right now in my country. This is unacceptable. In fact, I feel as if I live next to dangerous people. They have dangerous beliefs. And their actions are dangerous.
– Who do you mean specifically?
– For example, the first racket in the world (Arina Sobolenko). Did you know that in 2020 she signed a letter in support of Lukashenka? During the protests in Belarus, when the streets were covered in blood, because those who came out in defense of democracy and demanded fair elections were brutally suppressed and beaten. She signed this letter and declared that Lukashenko is her president.
Diana Schneider (Russian tennis player, former 11th ranked player in the world) was awarded by Putin. And Diana Schneider said she would be happy to receive the award from her president. These are her own words from the interview.
There are also players participating in an exhibition tournament organized by Gazprom, one of the main sponsors of the war. This tournament in St. Petersburg was organized, to put it bluntly, to spit in the face of a sport based on honesty and unity, and to show that they do not care. (Daniil) Medvedev took part in it. And many others. And at the same time, I woke up from explosions. Do you think this is normal? I am not.
