Oliynykova breaks through: How many Ukrainian tennis players reached WTA top 100 before
Photo: Oleksandra Oliynykova reaches a new level (Instagram of Oleksandra Oliynykova)
After winning the final of the WTA 125 tournament in Chile, Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliynykova rose to 95th place in the updated WTA world rankings, according to the official WTA website.
Year of incredible progress
Oliynykova started the 2025 season ranked 285th and, within a year, climbed nearly 200 spots.
In 76 matches played, she won 57 (75%) and claimed seven titles: four at ITF tournaments and three at WTA 125 events.
Being in the top 100 opens new opportunities for Oliynykova, including participation in WTA 1000 tournaments and Grand Slams.
Oleksandra Oliynykova (photo: Instagram of Oleksandra Oliynykova)
Gratitude to her father and the Armed Forces
The tennis player noted that this achievement is especially significant for her father, who is currently defending Ukraine in the Armed Forces.
"This is a very important victory for my father. He is currently in the army, protecting Ukraine, and it's incredibly tough. I try my best to become the athlete he wanted me to be, because it was his dream. He believed that I would enter the top 100 when no one else did," the athlete shared.
Oliynykova also spoke about her plans for preparing for the next season.
"After this series of tournaments, I’m returning to Ukraine to prepare for the next season, which I will start as a top-100 player. My training will take place in Kyiv, my hometown," she said.
The tennis player expressed gratitude to Ukrainian defenders for allowing her to train at home:
"I want to thank our defenders because if it weren’t for the Ukrainian military, I wouldn’t be able to train at home. This is very important. So thank you to our army, which protects me, and thanks to everyone who supports Ukraine. Thanks to this support, I can come back home," Oliynykova told Big Tennis Ukraine.
21st Ukrainian in the top 100
Oleksandra entered the WTA top-100 at the age of 24 years and 10 months, making her the oldest Ukrainian tennis player to debut in the elite group.
The youngest Ukrainian to achieve this remains Viktoriia Kutuzova, who entered the top 100 at the age of 17 years and 3 months.
All Ukrainian tennis players who have been in the WTA top-100:
- Natalia Medvedeva (debut 06.11.1989)
- Olha Luhina (debut 20.04.1998)
- Olena Tatarkova (debut 08.06.1998)
- Tetiana Perebiynis (debut 12.05.2003)
- Yuliia Vakulenko (debut 16.06.2003)
- Yuliana Fedak (debut 16.08.2004)
- Alona Bondarenko (debut 14.02.2005)
- Viktoriia Kutuzova (debut 21.11.2005)
- Olha Savchuk (debut 20.02.2006)
- Yuliia Beygelzimer (debut 31.07.2006)
- Kateryna Volodko (Bondarenko) (debut 07.08.2006)
- Maria Korytceva (debut 28.01.2008)
- Lesia Tsurenko (debut 28.05.2012)
- Elina Svitolina (debut 18.02.2013)
- Nadiia Kichenok (debut 06.01.2014)
- Kateryna Baindl (Kozlova) (debut 06.04.2015)
- Dayana Yastremska (debut 16.07.2018)
- Marta Kostyuk (debut 09.11.2020)
- Anhelina Kalinina (debut 12.07.2021)
- Yuliia Starodubtseva (debut 07.10.2024)
- Oleksandra Oliynykova (debut 24.11.2025)
