FILE PHOTO: August 30, 2021; Rinse, NY, USA; Angelique Kerber of Germany in action against Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine in a first round match on day one of the 2021 US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
March 4, 2022
(Reuters) – Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, who was forced to flee her homeland after Russia’s invasion last week, said she wanted to keep winning for her country after reaching the quarterfinals of the Lyon Open.
The 21-year-old and her younger sister Ivanna spent two nights in an underground car park last week before their parents sent them by boat from Ukraine to Romania and then on to France.
Yastremska broke down on court after her win over Romania’s Ana Bogdan in Tuesday’s WTA 250 event, but said she was handling the situation better after Thursday’s 6-2, 6-3 win over Cristina Bucsa.
“Today it was definitely a bit easier with my emotions,” said Yastremska. “I was able to keep them under control, so I’m very happy with that.
“Yesterday I tried to recover as quickly as possible to prepare for my game and I’m still very nervous because I really want to win the games for my country.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation”.
“This tournament is very emotional for me, but I’m very happy to win,” said Yastremska, adding that she was happy to be in a safe place with her sister.
“I really enjoy every point I play here, and especially with the situation we have now, I enjoy it a thousand times more,” she said.
“I will do my best to win my next match.”
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Pullin)
https://www.oann.com/tennis-ukraine-yastremska-wants-to-win-in-lyon-for-her-war-torn-country/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tennis-ukraine-yastremska-wants-to-win-in-lyon-for-her-war-torn-country Tennis Ukraine’s Yastremska is looking to win for her war-torn country in Lyon
