A week ago Dayana Yastremska ran away from Odessa with her younger sister, today she played the final of the Lyon tournament (losing to the Chinese Zhang Shuaiin three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-4). “I played for myself and for my country – the words of the Ukrainian tennis player in tears during the award ceremony – I had a lot of emotions and I was very tired. I drew a lot of energy from the support of the public. I fought for Ukraine. and I thank the people who are fighting “, insisted the player, with the yellow-blue flag of Ukraine on her shoulders. “The cash prize I earned here (14,500 euros for the runner-up), I will give to the Ukrainian Foundation to support Ukraine,” she added.
Yastremska arrived in Lyon last Saturday and spoke of being “awakened by bombs” when Russia invaded Ukraine, before making the journey to France.
She and her family had spent two nights sheltered from attack in an underground car park in the Black Sea port city of Odessa. Her father and mother remained in Ukraine while she and her 15-year-old younger sister Ivanna crossed. the Danube by boat to reach Romania and then France.
Dayana Yastremska, former 21st in the world before being disqualified for doping and then exonerated, had not played in the final since January 2020.
Source: Ansa
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