Ukrainian tennis player Valeriya Strakhova has partnered with Russians in doubles ©ITF

Ukrainian tennis player Valeriya Strakhova is aiming for a fifth doubles title of 2023 while playing alongside a Russian partner.

The 27-year-old is currently partnering Russia's Irina Khromacheva - who has to play as a neutral - at the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 250 tournament in Morocco's capital Rabat.

They defeated Natela Dzalamidze of Georgia and Mayar Sherif of Egypt 7-5, 5-7, 10-7 yesterday to book a quarter-final meeting with Romania's Monica Niculescu and Japan's Makoto Ninomiya.

The partnership is a rare example of Ukrainian-Russian cooperation in sport amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Strakhova, still playing under a Ukrainian flag, and Khromacheva have already won two tournaments this year in Colombia, in Anapoima and Mosquera.

Russia's Irina Khromacheva has won two tournaments with Ukraine's Valeriya Strakhova ©Getty Images
Russia's Irina Khromacheva has won two tournaments with Ukraine's Valeriya Strakhova ©Getty Images

The Ukrainian has also partnered with another Russian, Anshba Amina, to win two tournaments in Buenos Aires in 2023.

Strakhova was born in Kerch in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine to international condemnation in 2014.

The city is only a short distance from Russia - separated by just a couple of miles by the Kerch Strait and the Kerch Bridge.

Other Ukrainian players such as Marta Kostyuk have refused to shake hands with any Russian or Belarusian players on the tennis circuit.

She has claimed "discrimination" by the WTA after saying she did not want to face players from either country.

Kostyuk has also claimed that "no more than" five players from Russia and Belarus have privately expressed opposition to the war.

Another Ukrainian player, Lesia Tsurenko, withdrew from her match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Indian Wells Open as she suffered a "panic attack" following talks with WTA chief executive Steve Simon.

Strakhova is currently ranked 303rd in the world in singles and 135th in doubles.

Lesia Tsurenko is one of several players from Ukraine who have refused to compete against Russian opponents or shake hands with them at the end of matches ©Getty Images
Lesia Tsurenko is one of several players from Ukraine who have refused to compete against Russian opponents or shake hands with them at the end of matches ©Getty Images

Yevhen Zukin, the vice-president of the Ukrainian Tennis Federation, told Tribuna in January that he believed Strakhova was a "pro Russian person".

"As a public organisation, we cannot apply to deprive her of citizenship, to force her not to play under the Ukrainian flag," he said.

"We studied this issue and did not find a way.

"Although we are well aware that this is a problem, we are a public organsiation.

"Many believe that we can solve such issues, but no, we cannot.

"Such questions are decided by the Ministry, but what is the number 300-400 player in the world in tennis?

"Who will spend time on this?"