Article by David Istrate – Published on Monday, 18 May 2026, 21:32 / Updated on Monday, 18 May 2026 21:32
After going through two qualifying rounds, Oleksandra Oliynykova (25 years old, 66 WTA) continued to surprise at the WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg and defeated Alexandra Eala (20 years old, 38 WTA) with the score of 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. In the round of 16 of the competition, the Ukrainian will be watched from the stands by Denis, her father, who received a military permit and will fly to France.
After reaching the third round of the tournament in Rome, Oleksandra Oliynykova went to France in Strasbourg for a WTA 500 tournament. She played in the qualifiers and defeated Ksenia Efremova (17, 625 WTA), 6-1, 6-2, and Yulia Putintseva (31, 75 WTA), 6-4, 6-4.
Oleksandra Oliynykova continues winning streak in Strasbourg: “It was an absolutely fantastic match”
Round 1 of the competition brought her a confrontation with Alexandra Eala, one of the most popular players in the circuit. For Oliynykova, the win was extremely important as Denis, her father and manager, who is a volunteer in the Ukrainian army, has received military leave and will fly to France on Tuesday 19 May to see his daughter.
The inaugural set was awarded, however, by Eala: 6-3. Oliynykova recovered in the second set and led more, but her opponent forced a comeback. In the end, the 25-year-old tennis player prevailed 7-5 and sent the match to a deciding set.
The last sequence was tied until 3-3, but then Oliynykova won 3 games in a row and after two hours and 54 minutes won 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, qualifying for the round of 16 of the Strasbourg tournament.
“It was an absolutely fantastic match. At one point in the third quarter, when it was 3-3, I said to myself that I can relax because tennis has already won. I can be proud of this match. Maybe that helped me to be freer at the end, to win 3 games in a row and win,” said Oliynykova, during the on-court interview.
In the “eighties”, Oleksandra Oliynykova will be watched from the stands by her father, a volunteer in the Ukrainian army
The Transylvania Open semifinalist also talked about her father coming to France.
“It was so important to me (not to win). He will come here and every game he sees, every day will be so important because I don't know when he will see another game of mine. I was thinking about it before the game and emotionally it was very important for me,” explained Oliynykova.
In the “eights”, she will duel with Marie Bouzkova (27 years old, 27 WTA), who passed 7-6 (3), 6-3 against Katerina Siniakova (30 years old, 36 WTA).
If she wins, Oliynykova will play in the “quarters” with either Ann Li (25, 30 WTA) or Ekaterina Alexandrova (31, 14 WTA).
I also know why I travel alone. That's why I understand that I have to stay strong and accept this. That's it at the moment. I'm trying to turn this into something that helps me. How to explain? I know it's not without reason (not that I'm without a coach). It's because of the war. My father is a soldier and he defends my country. He is not absent from my side because he wants to be. His dream is, after Ukraine's victory, to travel with me again
– Oleksandra Oliynykova, after elimination from the Transylvania Open
