Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska, 21, fled Odessa a week ago with her 15-year-old sister Ivanka, 24 hours after the start of the war.
By decision of their father, the two left alone for Romania to then go to France. Dayana is now in Lyon while her parents remain in the Ukraine. She tells Euronews how her dramatic escape was.
“It was very hard and painful because you don’t know when you’re going to see your parents again. These are hard moments when you remember how we stayed on the ship and you see your parents on the other side. It was very emotional,” he confesses.
At the moment, Dayana is participating in the city’s women’s tennis tournament l’Open 6eme Sens. However, she admitted the difficulties of playing with Ukraine in mind.
“Now we have some Russians in Odessa. My father has told me that everything will be fine, that everything is under control, but I think he only says that so that I am not nervous,” says Yastremska.
With her sister always supporting her from the stands, Yastremska has been improving her game and in the round of 16 she was already very strong against the Spanish Cristina Bucsa.
“I was a bit more relaxed, but I still feel a bit blocked inside. I feel happy that I won but at the same time also sad. I’m happy because today I won again. I won for my country and I’m proud of Ukraine and of our people.”
In the singles, Yastremska started off a little off but won. And she won again and will play the semifinals this Saturday with a message for the Ukrainians.
“To the Ukrainian people: they are the strongest people in the world and have a crazy hearted spirit. They are very strong and I am proud that they are fighting for our lives, for a free Ukraine, and a big thank you to them, to the people who is there surviving and really defending the country and every city in Ukraine and all the women and children, making Ukraine free. Great respect to our people. They are heroes,” the young tennis player said with feeling.
