Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliynykova successfully started at the 2026 French Open Roland Garros. In the first round of the tournament, she defeated “neutral” tennis player Elena Pridankina in straight sets.
Sport.ua reports this.
Oleksandra Oliynykova, who is ranked No. 65 in the WTA rankings, defeated Russian player Elena Pridankina (WTA No. 218) 6:1, 6:2 in her opening Roland Garros match.
For the Ukrainian tennis player, this was her debut match in the main draw of Roland Garros. Oliynykova also won a Grand Slam match for the first time in her career.
In the next round, the Ukrainian will face the winner of the match between Kimberly Birrell and Jessica Pegula.
Background. Twenty-year-old Elena Pridankina is a product of the Russian tennis school and competed under the Russian flag from childhood. She began her career at ITF tournaments in Russia and abroad. The tennis player’s father, Ivan Pridankin, worked as a coach for Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev. She began competing under neutral status after the WTA and ITF decision adopted in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, virtually all of her international appearances at the professional level have taken place without the Russian flag or anthem. At the same time, she has not changed her citizenship and continues to represent the Russian tennis school.
