"Hardest match of my life" - reflects Yastremska on Lyon Open opener

Dayana Yastremska has spoken powerfully about the feelings that she has been dealing with in trying to play tennis while her homeland of Ukraine is being invaded by Russia.

After defeating Ana Bogdan in the first round of the Lyon Open, Dayana Yastremska sat down with Europosrt to discuss some of the things that she has been feeling after having to flee from her hometown a couple of days ago. Upon arrival in Romania, Yastremska and her younger sister flew to France where the older sister played a match. It was difficult:

"It was the hardest match of my life emotionally and what I felt inside. There are no words to describe it because, as I said on the court, my heart stays in Ukraine and my mind has to be on the court and fighting. It is very hard to find a balance. It was very hard to be able to deal with the emotions."

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She further said:

"In your head, there are a lot of thoughts, and with my family in Ukraine, a lot of people are fighting there. Of course this win, compared to what is going on in Ukraine, is nothing. But at least I'm trying my best also to fight for my country. Where I can do that, where I can fight, is a tennis court. So I'm also trying to show the maximum support from my side."