The most unique player at the Australian Open: the origin of Olenikova’s tattoos, her hardships, and heartwarming stories

The "Happy Grand Slam" isn’t always easy or joyful. In the first round of the Australian Open women’s singles, a tattooed unfamiliar face appeared on Rod Laver Arena — Oleksandra Olenikova from Ukraine.

This was Olenikova’s first match above the tour level, and it took place on the Grand Slam’s center court against the defending champion. She had never imagined such a scenario before the match.

Once the match began, the tattooed face was neither nervous nor fierce as some might have expected. After losing 6-7(6)/1-6, Olenikova appeared at the press conference with a big smile, casually saying, "I’m happy to be here."

“This is the best experience of my career,” Olenikova said. “I had never played — actually, I had never even competed in a main draw above WTA 250 level, nor played on center court. Having this experience will be unforgettable for me.”

Just before entering the interview room, Olenikova had won the crowd’s favor with her tenacious defense and varied tactics. Making her Grand Slam debut, she had a dream start, hitting numerous impressive winners and quickly establishing a 4-0 lead after breaking the defending champion twice in a row.

An upset seemed imminent. Fortunately, the defending champion Keys steadied herself, using resilience and experience to break back quickly. Keys played many brilliant points, earning applause even from Olenikova. At 6-6, they entered a tiebreak; after both reached 6-6 again, Keys clinched the first set 8-6 with two consecutive points at the end.

After the first set, Olenikova appeared to have exhausted her energy and focus. In the second set, she quickly fell behind 0-4 after two breaks, a complete reversal from the first set. After barely holding one service game, Keys broke again late to seal the match 6-1.

At the net, Keys embraced Olenikova and applauded her, calling her a “great competitor” during the on-court interview — a moment that made Olenikova smile even brighter as she signed autographs on the sidelines.

“I think matches aren’t always about winning or losing,” Olenikova said. “In this sport, relying solely on results to pressure players is harmful because when you play great tennis against strong opponents, you see both sides display true sportsmanship and kind fans cheering for both.”

“We need to truly enjoy those moments. I’m not disappointed or upset because for me, the process matters more than just the outcome. If I only focused on results, I wouldn’t have reached this level. That’s how I view this match.”

Behind her radiant smile, Olenikova’s heart was far from calm as she spoke about a heavy topic at the press conference — one that every Ukrainian player has repeatedly mentioned.

In 2011, when Olenikova was just 10 years old, her father protested against the pro-Russian government and was forced to lead the family to flee Ukraine to Croatia.

Now, the family has returned to their homeland. Olenikova currently lives and trains in Kyiv, while her father and coach, Denis, serves on the front lines of the Ukrainian military. Last week, Olenikova traveled alone across the ocean to Australia; her player box was empty while Keys’ box was packed.

Olenikova said coming to Australia alone wasn’t easy, but she believes representing Ukraine on the world stage is her mission — to show the world the impact the war has had on her and her country.

“On my last night in Ukraine, there were several large-scale attacks,” Olenikova said. “Explosions occurred near my home; a drone hit a house across the street, and the blast really shook my apartment.”

“Every match is important because it’s an opportunity to represent Ukraine and speak for my country. As long as Ukrainian players appear on court, it reminds people that the war continues. Where I live now, there is no electricity, no water, and no heating. That’s the reality, and I think having the chance to speak openly about this is very important.”

After the war began, Olenikova’s father enlisted in the military, which greatly inspired her. While her father fights on the battlefield, she battles on the court. Just eight months ago, Olenikova was ranked 274th; since then, she won three WTA 125 titles in Torneo, Tucumán, and Colina, breaking into the top 100.

Olenikova said she dreamed of playing on a Grand Slam center court since childhood, and now that dream has come true — winning or losing no longer matters.

Her father, Denis Olenikov, could not attend in person due to his military duties, but he watched his daughter’s match live from the Ukrainian military camp — the most special and unforgettable moment for both.

“Dad messaged me saying it was an exciting match,” Olenikova said. “Yes, I helped Dad achieve his dream. What could be better than that? I can’t put it into words.”

Before this press conference, Olenikova criticized several Russian and Belarusian players, accusing Sabalenka of signing a 2020 document supporting Lukashenko, calling it “supporting the suppression of protesters,” mentioning Schneider’s pride when receiving Putin’s recognition, and condemning Medvedev and others for participating in exhibitions sponsored by "Gazprom," which is accused of funding the war.

Besides this, Olenikova also shared some heartwarming stories related to herself.

In 2017, at only 16, she had to ask for help on social media due to financial difficulties in sustaining her career. Italian player Errani reached out, sending her rackets, strings, and sports gear.

Regarding Olenikova’s unusual tattoos, some netizens revealed that since 2021 she has auctioned parts of her skin on the OpenSea platform, allowing the highest bidders to decide the tattoo designs there, priced at about 3 Ethereum each. In her toughest times, this method helped sustain her career. Public data shows Ethereum’s price has fluctuated between $1,200 and $3,300 since 2021.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Yun Juan Yun Shu)