“A new victory for me and for my country”: Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska qualified for the quarter-finals of the Lyon tennis tournament on Thursday after beating Spaniard Carla Bucsa in just over an hour 6 on Thursday -2, 6-3.
“I was able to control my emotions better than in my first match and that’s why I was able to deliver a good part”, rejoiced Yastremska, 21, ex-21st in the world, at the exit of the short before going to thank, Ukrainian flag on the shoulders, the Mayor of Lyon, Grégory Doucet (EELV), present in the gallery and who had received her at the Town Hall, Wednesday.
After qualifying, Bucsa, 139th player in the world, beat Frenchwoman Alizé Cornet, seeded N.4, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Monday.
Yastremska, currently No. 128 in the WTA rankings, received an invitation to the Lyon tournament even before the start of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army. Originally from Odessa, she arrived in Lyon on Sunday after fleeing her country with her younger sister, Ivanna (15), leaving her parents behind.
In her first round on Tuesday, she beat Romania’s Ana Bogdan 3-6, 7-6 7-6 after saving match point in the second and third sets. Taken by emotion, she ended on her knees and in tears after three hours and five minutes of play.
“Today was a little bit easier to play. I was able to concentrate better than in my first match. I try to show my best level and I try to fight on every point. This is another victory for me and another victory for my country,” she said at a press conference.
“I feel better physically than mentally but I had a good rest day on Wednesday after my first match on Tuesday and that helped me a lot. We’ll see what happens on Friday, if I can raise my physical level but I’m taking it game by game. I try to do my best and stay calm and focused,” she said.
Dayana Yastremska will face Italian Jasmine Paolini, seeded No. 5 and 48th in the world, on Friday to try to reach the last four.
