PARIS — Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliynykova has called for sanctions against Russian opponent Diana Shnaider following her third-round loss at the French Open, accusing the Russian of supporting the war in Ukraine through participation in a Gazprom-funded exhibition event.

Oliynykova, who lost 7-5, 6-1 to Shnaider on Saturday, used her post-match news conference to criticize tennis governing bodies for what she described as hypocrisy in failing to punish players linked to Russian state-sponsored companies. She displayed images of Shnaider playing at the Northern Palmyra Trophies exhibition in St. Petersburg last year, an event sponsored by Gazprom, the Russian state-owned energy company.

"She doesn't want to comment on the war, because if she says her opinion, it would be a very big scandal, but I showed you the proof," Oliynykova said. "I want to stop the tour being so hypocritical by pretending they cannot do anything, because they have the mechanism."

Oliynykova argued that tennis organizations sanction players for participating in events organized by betting companies but fail to act against those linked to entities she described as "war crimes sponsors." She compared Shnaider's participation to "playing in Nazi Germany for Gestapo officers" or events organized by companies involved in building Auschwitz.

"The Gazprom tournament is a company which is financing the war crimes, and playing in the tournament which is financing the camps for kids," Oliynykova claimed. "I think it's the same as playing in Nazi Germany for Gestapo officers, or the tournament organised by the company which built Auschwitz. There is no difference for me."

She also presented screenshots appearing to show Shnaider "liking" pro-Vladimir Putin posts on Instagram, further accusing her of supporting Russian propaganda.

Shnaider, who advanced to the fourth round with the victory, said she had not seen Oliynykova's comments. Regarding the exhibition, she........

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