'Great news': Tennis world hails silver lining for shattered Ukrainian
Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska has been the feel-good story in tennis over the past week, with fans rallying around the 21-year-old after her improbable charge to the WTA Lyon final.
Sadly, Yastremska's fairytale run to the final in France came to a devastating end as the Ukrainian was defeated 3-6 6-3 6-4 against in-form Chinese rival, Zhang Shuai.
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The 21-year-old broke down in tears after the match in scenes that were tough to watch for many fans had been cheering her on all week, in the face of incredible adversity.
Yastremska had of course fled her home city Odessa with her younger sister just one week earlier, after it was bombed by Russian forces.
The parents of the Ukrainian sisters made the stunning sacrifice to get their girls out of the country at all costs, to ensure their safety.
Following her defeat in the Lyon final, like she had done all week, Yastremska took to the microphone draped in the Ukrainian flag.
She admitted that she found it tough to sleep at all due to the crisis unfolding in her homeland, in a touching speech where she also pledged to donate her prize money to a foundation back in her homeland set up to help out those impacted by the war.
Dayana Yastremska playing for the people of Ukraine
"The prize money I earn here I'm going to give to the Ukrainian Foundation to support Ukraine," Yastremska said, before she broke down in tears.
"If Ukrainian people are watching me, I want to say 'you guys are so strong, you have an amazing spirit, and I tried to fight for Ukraine'.
Fans were understandably gutted for Yastremska, although news shortly after the match that she'd been granted a wildcard to play in the upcoming Indian Wells tournament was greeted with joy.
Dayana Yastremska will come to Indian Wells as a wild card! https://t.co/cCsN8IT3ID
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) March 6, 2022
You played a marvelous week of tennis! I look forward to watching you at Indian Wells. #StandWithUkraine ✌💙🇺🇦
— Julie Moore (@JulieMo05090387) March 6, 2022
Dayana Yastremska receives Naomi Osaka’s Indian Wells wild card, as the Japanese entered directly today.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 6, 2022
Dayana Yastremska 🇺🇦 receives a wild card into Indian Wells.
The Ukrainian gets former champion Naomi Osaka’s 🇯🇵 wild card, who gets direct entry due to Camila Giorgi 🇮🇹 withdrawing.#IndianWells @BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/A06Z1SYg4N— First Serve Tennis (@FirstServeTnnis) March 6, 2022
Keep that passion! Will be cheering i on at Indian Wells!
— Kristin Van Weele (@kvanweele) March 6, 2022
That's great news about Yastremska's wildcard!!
— Mombo (@Mombo36547267) March 7, 2022
Deserving of a #IndianWells wild card...
— Here, right matters (@NuStepping) March 6, 2022
Yastremska was originally not on the Indian Wells wildcard list but took Naomi Osaka's spot after the withdrawal of Camila Giorgi put the Japanese star straight through.
The Ukrainian star took to social media after her loss in Lyon to thank fans around the world for their overwhelming support.
"My beloved Ukraine, I really wanted to win this one for you!" she wrote.
"Gave my absolute best throughout this week because that’s what Ukrainians do!
"Thank you for all the support I received this week, it means the world to me. I am forever grateful!"
My beloved Ukraine, I really wanted to win this one for you!! 💙💛🥺I gave my absolute best throughout this week because that’s what Ukrainians do!Thank you for all the support I received this week, it means the world to me. I am forever grateful!🇫🇷#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/qdJVsWkf8d
— Dayana Yastremska (@D_Yastremska) March 6, 2022
with agencies
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