Dayana Yastremska pledges Lyon Open prize money to war-torn Ukraine
- Yastremska, draped in the Ukraine flag at every match this week, went down 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to China’s Zhang Shuai in the final
- ‘I want to say you guys are so strong, you have an amazing spirit, and I tried to fight for Ukraine,’ Yastremska tells compatriots
Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska said she would donate her prize money to help support her homeland after finishing as runner-up to Zhang Shuai at the Lyon Open on Sunday.
The world number 140 Yastremska, who draped the Ukraine flag around her shoulders at every match this week, went down 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to 64th-ranked Zhang.
Despite the loss, it was a sterling performance from Yastremska, who was forced to shelter with her family in an underground garage in her war-torn home country for two nights just a week ago.
The 21-year-old arrived in Lyon last Saturday spoke of being “woken up by bombs” when Russia invaded Ukraine. Her father and mother remained behind after saying goodbye to Yastremska and her 15-year-old sister Ivanna when they crossed the Danube by boat to reach Romania.
“The prize money I earn here (14,500 euros for the runner-up), I’m going to give to the Ukrainian Foundation to support Ukraine,” a tearful Yastremska told the crowd.