It’s not easy being a tennis player. The yearlong travel and endless time away from family can feel lonely. For Oleksandra Oliynykova, it’s more than that, it can be worrying. The Ukrainian, ranked No.97, just wrapped up her Australian Open run against Madison Keys. Her loss came in Melbourne. But her heart stayed back home, with her family, especially her father.

On Tuesday, after falling 6-7, 1-6 to the defending champion, Oliynykova spoke from a deeper place. She opened up about her father, who serves in the military back in Ukraine. As she thought about his hardships, her own journey on tour felt different. Just before she left for Melbourne, an explosion struck near her home. That worry lingered throughout the tournament. Speaking to the press, Oleksandra Oliynykova shared what drives her.

“My father is a soldier. I’m alone here. Before, I was traveling with him. My father is my biggest support since my childhood in everything. I’m so proud of him. This is something that’s keeping me motivated even more.”

“After he joined the military, I did progress over 200 positions [in the rankings]. I know it was his dream to see me on this court. I cannot explain these feelings. When you’re in this situation, you can put the right priorities in your life. I would do everything to make him even more proud. Even he told me it was an amazing match. He just texted me. I made his dream come true. What could be a bigger motivation? I cannot imagine this.”

Oleksandra Oliynykova began competing on the ITF Circuit in October 2017. She claimed her first professional title the next year at the $15k event in Heraklion. Over the seasons, she grew consistent and confident, collecting ten singles and two doubles titles between 2017 and 2025. Her steady climb through the ranks has been a story of grit.

Her breakthrough came in 2025. She captured her first WTA 125 titles in Tolentino and Tucumán, the latter marked by her maiden Top 100 win against No.67 Solana Sierra. She followed it with another strong run in Colina, breaking into the Top 100 for the first time at No.95 on November 24, 2025. That year also saw her make her Grand Slam qualifying debuts at Wimbledon and the US Open, major milestones in her journey.

At the Australian Open, she couldn’t get past Keys this time. But her opponent didn’t forget to acknowledge her touch, form, and presence on court.

Keys gives a heartfelt shoutout to Oleksandra Oliynykova

After her first-round win, Madison Keys couldn’t help but smile at the challenge she faced from her Ukrainian opponent. Oliynykova had made her work hard for every single point, turning the opening match into anything but routine.

“It’s just been a really long time to play someone who plays that style, but she does it so effectively,” Keys said after the win, just as Oleksandra Oliynykova walked off court.

“They’re so high and they’re so deep. It was really hard. I felt like I couldn’t really take a swing volley or kind of like take it off of the bounce just because she hits such a good ball off of that.”

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Throughout the match, the Ukrainian proved to be a tricky puzzle for the defending champion. Even after trailing 4-0 in the first set and again in the tiebreak, Keys had to fight tooth and nail, saving two set points before solving the riddle in time. The rallies were long, tense, and packed with pace and patience.

Oleksandra Oliynykova had come in with a clear plan. She knew she couldn’t overpower Keys, so she chose smarts over brute strength. From high, looping moonballs to consistent defensive shots, she dragged Keys into tiring rallies. There were even moments when she forced the American into errors or awkward smashes, leaving the crowd gasping.

For the first four games, her blueprint worked like a charm. Keys, rattled by a few double faults and loose forehands, found herself down 0-4. But as champions often do, she regrouped quickly. Keys snatched five games in a row, turned the set around, and eventually seized the momentum after Oliynykova missed her shot at serving it out.

Even with the scoreboard tilted against her, Oleksandra Oliynykova left a lasting impression. Her campaign in Melbourne may be over, but her fight, flair, and fearless shot-making spoke volumes. She’ll now look ahead to her next challenge. She’s proven she’s a force to be reckoned with. What do you think?