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Dayana Yastremska fled war-torn Ukraine to Romania and then France to play at the Lyon Open earlier this week, and on Sunday she lost to Zhang Shuai 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.
It was Yastremska’s first final since losing to Ash Barty at the Adelaide International 2020. She struggled with perseverance to get past Ana Bogdan, Christina Buccia, Jasmine Paolini and Sorana Kirstea to get to Zhang before her run finally came to an end.
Wrapped in a Ukrainian flag and gasping for tears, Yastremska said the week had been “really hard.”
Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska wearing the Ukrainian national flag reacts to the final of the WTA 6eme Sens Open semi-final tennis match against Romanian Sorana Kirstea in Lyon on March 5, 2022. (OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)
“All this week I have been fighting here in court not only for myself, but also for my country, and … I am still very pleased with the final, because I have not played in the final for a long time, and today, I think, there were not enough emotions and pretty much tired,” she said. “But the crowd is here and these people, and since I just arrived here, it was amazing. Everyone was very supportive of me, and I felt such strength from the people here, and thanks to the tournament director for wild card, thanks for the opportunity.”
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She spoke to Bild last week about the journey that took her to France. She said she started hearing bombs near Odessa, Ukraine, on February 23, and on February 24, her father made the decision that she and her sister needed to leave the country as Russian forces were invading.
Yastremska said they went to Izmail near the Romanian border and boarded a boat to cross the river to Romania.
Lyon Open
FILE – Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine plays a backhand to Madison Brengle of the United States during the first round match of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia January 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Simon Baker, file)
Yastremska entered the French tournament as a wild card.
She beat Bogdan 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (9-7) and advanced to the next round.
In the 1/8 finals, Yastremska scored a landslide victory over qualifying Bucha 6–2, 6–3 and advanced to the quarterfinal round with a strong opponent. Paolini finished fifth in the tournament with over 270 singles wins. However, Yastremska again showed no fear and upset Paolini 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
Tournament No. 2 seeded Kyrsta and Yastremska played each other on Saturday.
DAYANA YASTREMSKA REACHED THE OPEN HALF-MISS OF LYON AFTER THE WAR
Yastremska had to reach a tie-break in the first set. She won the first set 7-6 (7-5) but lost the second 4-6. Yastremska defeated Kirstya in the final set with a score of 6:4. Yastremskaya managed to win despite seven double faults. She was 5 out of 9 in break points.
The 21-year-old reached her first final since 2020 and faced Zhang, the eighth seed from China. Yastremska won the first set 6-3, but the magic was over as Zhang returned in the second and third sets to win the match.
Helping her home
Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska wearing the Ukrainian national flag reacts to the final of the WTA 6eme Sens Open semi-final tennis match against Romanian Sorana Kirstea in Lyon on March 5, 2022. (OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)
Yastremska told the crowd in Lyon that she was going to donate her proceeds from the Lyon Open to those in Ukraine who were affected by the war.
“The prize fund that I have earned here, I am going to give to the Ukrainian Fund for the Support of Ukraine. And if the Ukrainians look at me, I want to say that you guys are so strong,” she said. “You have an amazing spirit and I tried to fight for Ukraine and I want to say thank you to every person from Ukraine for supporting Ukraine and showing people that we have a really strong spirit.”
The Lyon Open runner-up receives around $18,036.
Wanting to win
Yastremska reached out to fans on social media after losing to Zhang and thanked them for their support.
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“My beloved Ukraine, I really wanted to win for you!!” she tweeted. “I gave it my all this week because that’s what Ukrainians do! Thank you for all the support I have received this week, it means the world to me. I am eternally grateful!”