"She could bring me some experience and help to my game" - Dayana Yastremska touches on trial period with Alexandra Stevenson recommended by Pam Shriver

A lot of coaching change has been occurring recently on the WTA Tour with a number of high calibre names chopping and changing their team. Dayana Yastremska has also been eyeing up a new coach, and at the Charleston Open has begun a trial partnership with former Wimbledon semi-finalist Alexandra Stevenson.

After reaching the Australian Open semi-final in 2024, the Ukrainian has not reached those heights in recent times. A couple of final defeats have been the highlight as she currently sits in the world number 49 position in the WTA rankings.

Yastremska was introduced to Stevenson via Pam Shriver's newly-launched Yonex Mindset Performance Program. She was recommended to have a trial with the former world number 18 with their aggressive gamestyles complimenting each other.

The second part of the Sunshine swing at the Miami Open was where they first teamed up. “In Indian Wells, Pam suggested that I try with Alexandra and that she could bring me some experience and help to my game,” Yastremska stated. “I came to Miami and before the Miami Open, we trained together."

There is a caveat with Stevenson having other commitments. There is uncertainty if the American will be able to be by her side in the future. “She’s currently working with a junior player and she’s under contract with her until the end of the year. So, I don’t know how it’s going to go in the future," she admitted.

"Maybe she’ll be able to help me some weeks. We still need to discuss all of that. We will see how the schedule will be made, so I cannot say anything about it. But I did enjoy this week and the days before the tournament, practicing with her and getting experience.”

The Yonex Mindset Performance Program (YMPP) was first introduced by Yonex in 2026. Shriver rejoined Yonex at this time to be a key figure in aiding other tennis players who are involved in the program. It follows after coaching another Yonex athlete in the form of Donna Vekic, overseeing a lot of success, including an Olympic silver medal and a Wimbledon semi-final.

She stated the news on Instagram. “[Yonex] wants their players to be as healthy as they can in the mindset so they can perform at their best. I’m here to offer my 47 years of experience in professional tennis and going through a lot of difficulties in life. I know how difficult it is to work day by day, step by step on the mindset. I’m ready for this challenge.”

Shriver watched on in Charleston as Vekic defeated Ajla Tomljanovic in three sets. Yastremska has shown interest in signing on with the YMPP. While not fully signing on yet, the prospect intrigues her with conversations with Shriver in the pipeline.

“I need to have some conversations with Pam tonight,” she stated. “Today, she had to be on the neutral side because Belinda [Bencic] is also from Yonex. I feel like they’re really invested in their job of helping players. They’re trying to bring all the experience and all they’ve learned on their life journeys to explain and help us in some ways. It’s nice and interesting.”

Yastremska's Charleston Open ended to the hands of the Swiss in three sets. She had defeated Anastasia Zakharova the match before but she could only kick off her clay swing with a second round exit. More progress will be the target as she sets her sights on the Upper Austria Ladies Linz from April 6-12.