Ukrainian tennis star Oleksandra Oliynykova has hit out at Aryna Sabalenka and designer brand Gucci, after the world No 1 was announced as the fashion brand’s newest ambassador.
The Belarusian tennis star announced the brand deal on Thursday evening, publishing clips of herself walking onto the rooftop tennis court at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Melbourne wearing a brown Gucci gown and a pair of stiletto heels.
The 27-year-old carried a tennis racket and hit some shots while wearing the outfit.
‘Gucci is bold and expressive and I think it’s the best fit,’ she said during her press conference after sealing victory against Anastasia Potapova on Friday.
However, Sabalenka and Gucci have faced some criticism in recent days from Olyinykova and an Instagram account called United24.media.
United24.media published a video of Sabalenka’s partnership with the Italian fashion designer, adding a video of her speaking and hugging with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko below it.
Oleksandra Oliynykova has hit out at Aryna Sabalenka for her brand deal with Gucci
The Belarusian world No 1 (pictured) announced her brand deal with Gucci late last week at the Australian Open
Ukrainian star Oliynykova (pictured) had publicly called for Russian and Ukrainian players to be banned from the Grand Slams
‘Lukashenko’s cherished tennis player Aryna Sabalenka becomes new Gucci ambassador,’ a caption on the video read.
Over the past few years, Sabalenka has distanced herself from the Belarusian president and has also condemned the war in Ukraine. Last week, she once again insisted that she does not support the war in Ukraine, nor does she support Lukashenko, who is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Oliynykova reposted United24.media’s clip to her Instagram account and added a caption.
‘A supporter of a bloody dictator becomes an ambassador for a top brand,’ the Ukrainian wrote. ‘What is wrong with this world, and at what point did people start valuing powerful serves and forehands over ruined lives?’
Sabalenka has since responded to reaffirm that she did not support the war in Ukraine.
‘I respect that everyone is allowed to have their opinion and use their platforms,’ Sabalenka said following her straight-sets victory against Victoria Mboko on Sunday.
‘I’ve been clear before that I’m pro-peace. Nothing has changed.
‘That’s all I can say about that.’
Oliynykova (pictured) noted Sabalenka’s new deal, and took to Instagram to write: ‘A supporter of a bloody dictator becomes an ambassador for a top brand. What is wrong with this world, and at what point did people start valuing powerful serves and forehands over ruined lives?’
Sabalenka donned a pair of Gucci sunglasses during a press conference last week and said: ‘Gucci is bold and expressive and I think it’s the best fit’
It comes after Oliynykova called on the ATP Tour, WTA Tour and the Grand Slams to ban the world No 1 and other Belarusian and Russian players.
Oliynykova told The Age: ‘It is very wrong that they are not disqualified in tennis like other sports.’
It came after her defeat by defending champion Madison Keys in the first round of the women’s singles last week.
Sabalenka hit back at the claims, stating again that she did not support the war.
‘Well, I’ve spoken a lot about that before. Obviously, I want peace,’ the Belarusian said in response,’ Sabalenka said.
‘If I could change anything, I would definitely do that.
‘Other than that, I have nothing else to say.’
The Belarusian will now face off against No 29 seed American Iva Jovic in the quarter-finals of the women’s singles.
Sabalenka (pictured) has continued to insist that she does not support the war or Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko
Should she progress to the next round, Sabalenka will face either US star Coco Gauff or Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
Svitolina had also backed her compatriot Oliynykova for using her platform to raise awareness about the conflict.
‘The war has been ongoing for four years and we’ve talked about it many, many times,’ Svitolina said.
‘For me, now it’s gone, the topic.
‘The stance has been taken already. Decisions have been made by the WTA and ATP [Tours].
‘Right now, what we can do is go out there, try to perform well, try to represent our country in the right way and use our voices to bring the attention, to bring the help and to not forget that we can use our voices to bring the help, to bring the attention to our home.’
Oliynykova lives and trains in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. She told reporters last week that as she was preparing to leave to travel to Australia, her flat began to shake after a drone strike hit an apartment opposite hers.
After her defeat by Keys, Oliynykova appeared for her press conference wearing a T-shirt that read: ‘I need your help to protect Ukrainian children and women. But I can’t talk about it here.’
The 25-year-old Ukrainian said to The Age: ‘I know that here is the picture that we are all tennis girls playing, but the people don’t see the things behind it.
‘The people with money and power, they are using this to support aggression against my country.
‘They are the reason, the people who have the power to speak up. They are not doing this.’
It came after she had opened up about her family life.
She was born in Kyiv in 2001 and has gone on to reach a career-high singles ranking of No 92.
Oliynykova’s father, Denis, is currently fighting on the front line in Ukraine.
She revealed that he had texted her after the match to tell her that she had ‘made his dream come true’.
‘He is my biggest supporter and has been since childhood,’ Oliynykova said.
‘I’m so proud of him and that’s something that’s keeping me motivated even more.
‘After he joined the military, I have improved my ranking by over 200 places.
‘I know it was his dream to see me on this court and I would do everything to make him proud.’
Daily Mail has contacted Gucci for comment.