The Australian Open of professional tennis is underway in Melbourne.  Elite athletes are giving everything to vanquish their opponents.  Only one woman will win seven matches – the winner of the tournament.

Oleksandra Oliynykova is a tennis player from Ukraine (on the left in the photo).  Not well known.  Not at the top of the game.  Not sought for interviews.

In Kyiv, “There was explosion just near my home, and a drone hit the home just across the road.  My apartment was literally shaking because of the explosion … In my apartment, I have no electricity, no water, no heat.”

What type of person does war mould you into?  Depends on the person.

In the first round of the Australian Open, Oliynykova was playing Madison Keys from the USA, ranked 9th in the world.  Oleksandra is 92nd.  It was supposed to be “no contest”.

Here’s what a reporter had to say:

Oliynykova won the crowd over – and for a set, flummoxed Keys – with her game, all dogged defense and creative variety.  When she went up a double break with one of the best points of the match, retrieving the American’s hardest strikes before slotting an angled pass past her, an unlikely upset seemed to be brewing.

A story many of us love … an underdog giving the favourite all she could handle.

But there was far more to Oliynykova:

But even as Keys worked out the puzzle, settled her nerves and reeled her opponent in, nothing could stop Oliynykova from relishing her experience.  She frequently clapped Keys’ clutch winners and aces, and approached the net after the match with a broad smile on her face.

Such joy – in playing a game she loves, in being stretched by a skilled opponent, in being applauded by thousands of fans.  Madison Keys was touched by Oleksandra Oliynykova …

No wonder that Keys also applauded Oliynykova after their hug, and opened her on-court interview by praising her as a “great competitor”, a moment that only broadened the smile of Oliynykova, who was still signing autographs by the side of the court.

“I think it’s not always about winning or losing,” Oliynykova said.  “It’s not good in the sport that we are putting too much pressure on the athlete depending only the results, because when you are playing great tennis, you are playing against great opponents, you see high sportsmanship from both sides, you see very kind fans who are cheering for both.”

Well said, Oleksandra

You’re a jewel in the world

I wish we could go for coffee