Match Point with Ola Bodnarus

Ola Bondarus is a visual artist working across photography and film. She studied graphic design and branding at SWPS University, as well as at the Academy of Fine Arts. She creates fashion, commercial, and personal projects, developing strong visual narratives that merge contemporary aesthetics with a distinct vintage influence. Her work extends to the world's biggest tennis courts — Wimbledon, the US Open, and Roland Garros — where she builds her own visual stories, connecting tennis culture with fashion. Her project Practice Court / US Open '24 was exhibited in Kraków. Her work has been published in Vogue Poland, Elle, GQ France, K MAG, and more. Her fashion film Karesansui received the Creative Concept Award at the Fashion Film Festival Chicago.

What first drew you to photographing tennis?
I started photography very early, moving between fine art photography, portrait photography and fashion. Tennis had also always been close to me - my whole family watched pretty much every tournament and for that reason I was encouraged to photograph tennis, or rather, invited into this world, by Polish player Magda Linette. I've photographed my first tennis series during the US Open '24.

What do you notice on a tennis court that most people never see?
I think what interests me most is the silence and the calm. While watching matches on TV or at tournaments, the most important moment for many fans is when a player wins a point, the applause, the cheering, all the energy that appears in the stands. However what fascinates me the most is the silence and suspense. The silence before a serve. The silence when you can clearly hear the ball hitting the racket. There is something romantic about it. In those moments, the whole space of the court starts to look different. People in the stands. somewhere in the distance, often almost completely still or moving only their heads with the rhythm of the game, become a kind of pattern for me. They create a quiet background to everything happening on the court.

Is there a particular shot or moment you're always chasing during a match?
Yes. I really love fashion and portrait photography, so I always wait for those moments when a player naturally finds a pose, when their body looks natural and effortless, when you can feel a sense of fluidity and ease. It might seem strange considering how physically demanding tennis is, but you can really find and feel these moments. That is what I'm looking for when I have my camera in hand.

Tennis is full of precision and repetition. How do you make every image feel unique?
It might seem a little strange because we all see the geometry of the court, tennis fans, coaches and commentators often use the phrase that a player is using the full geometry of the court. I use that geometry in my photographs. Composition is very important to me. I think it is the combination of the dynamics of the court, the composition of the image, the emotion and the way the player holds their body that makes a series feel both diverse and connected.

Is there one player whose movement or style you find especially inspiring to photograph?
Oh, of course. Naomi Osaka is a huge inspiration for me. Apart from the fact that I love her game and the way she moves, I really love how she combines tennis with fashion. That is exactly what I am looking for. I believe I will create something with Naomi soon and I am looking forward for this wonderful creative connection fashion and sport. I'm putting it all out
I also love Coco Gauff, her body language on the court, her emotions and her calmness. I see the most of that silence I love in her. You can actually easily find two close-ups of Coco on my Instagram - one from Roland Garros and the other one is a Polaroid from Rome

Connect with Ola and take a look at her work on Instagram @olabodnarvs