Oliynykova turns blackout peril into breakthrough win
Escaping Kyiv’s sudden darkness with minutes to spare, Oleksandra Oliynykova channels that narrow escape into creative fire, outlasting Mayar Sherif for her first WTA main-draw victory at the Transylvania Open.
Oleksandra Oliynykova’s first WTA main-draw win arrived like a long-awaited rally winner, slicing through the tension of a three-set scrap on the indoor hard courts of Cluj-Napoca. The 24-year-old Ukrainian outlasted Mayar Sherif 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4 in 2 hours and 54 minutes, reversing a 3-1 deficit in the decider with a surge of inventive tennis. Her journey to the Transylvania Open, marked by the chaos of war at home, infused every point with quiet urgency, turning the match into more than just a debut breakthrough.
The contest unfolded as a tactical duel under the arena’s steady lights, where Sherif’s baseline grinding met Oliynykova’s adaptive flair. High moonballs from the Ukrainian pushed the Egyptian deep, setting up flat inside-out forehands that skidded low on the surface. As the crowd leaned in, sensing the shift, Oliynykova’s positive vibe from her Australian Open run against Madison Keys evolved into a weapon, her father’s frontline service adding unspoken layers to the fight.
“When I was losing in the third set in some moments, I said to myself just to enjoy being here, because actually it’s a big luck to compete in this tournament,” Oliynykova said in her on-court interview.
“I live and practise in Kyiv and because of Russian attacks, we have very big problems with electricity. Two hours before my train -- because I live on the 20th floor -- I’m entering the lift and electricity just turns off. In the end, I was just 10 minutes before my train left. So actually it’s a big luck.
“I just said to myself, ‘C’mon, there was a possibility that you would not come to this tournament. Try to enjoy it, try to play more free and more creative.' And actually, that was the key today to win.”
Blackout scramble sharpens her edge
Just last week, Kyiv suffered a widespread power outage, trapping Oliynykova in a stalled elevator on her 20th-floor home with her train to Romania ticking away. She burst out with 10 minutes to spare, the close call reframing her entire trip to Cluj-Napoca as a gift amid the war’s disruptions. That adrenaline carried into her preparations, the Transylvania Open’s schedule—laid out in the Scores, Draws, and Order of play—positioning her opener as a evening battle where every moment felt borrowed.
The mental pivot hit hard during the match, as Oliynykova reminded herself of the fragility back home. Her father’s distant fight loomed in the background, yet she channeled it into freer swings, the indoor hard court’s speed amplifying her transitions from defense to attack. The crowd’s growing energy mirrored her resolve, their cheers punctuating points that bridged survival with sport.
Drop shots and moonballs clash fiercely
Sherif struck first with a tiebreak clinic, her exquisite drop shots pulling Oliynykova forward and saving a set point through clever angles. The Egyptian mixed slice backhands to widen the court, forcing crosscourt exchanges that tested the Ukrainian’s topspin depth on the grippy surface. But Oliynykova absorbed it, using lung-busting rallies to wear down her opponent’s rhythm and level the sets.
Variety defined the middle frames, where Oliynykova’s one–two patterns emerged: deep moonballs shoving Sherif back, followed by down-the-line passes that exploited the open court. She slipped twice in the decider, yet those falls ignited her sharpest moments—a scrambling backhand volley and a heavy topspin lob that drew gasps. Claiming five of the last six games, she turned the psychological tide, her loose body language signaling a breakthrough in point construction.
Bondar looms as next resilience test
Now Oliynykova eyes No. 8 seed Anna Bondar in the second round, the Hungarian rallying from two points from defeat to beat Ella Seidel 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-0. Bondar’s patient aggression, honed on clay but adaptable indoors, will probe the Ukrainian’s fresh momentum on these faster courts. With rankings points on the line, this matchup could propel Oliynykova deeper, her creative edge now a tool for ascent amid the season’s storms.
The Transylvania Open pulses with such underdog tales, Oliynykova’s weaving personal peril into professional poise. Her win not only marks a milestone but hints at bolder runs ahead, where mental reframing turns every tournament into a stage for unburdened play. As Cluj-Napoca’s arena echoes with possibility, she steps forward lighter, ready to build on this hard-earned spark.
