- Dayana Yastremska has reached semi-finals of Australian Open
- Fled her native Ukraine in 2022 due to ongoing conflict with Russia
- Now 23-year-old is two matches away from winning a Grand Slam
Ukrainian tennis star Dayana Yastremska is the feel good story of the Australian Open – and the 23-year-old has endured more than most to reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
A photo from her Instagram account dated almost two years ago shows just how chaotic Yastremska’s life has been at times.
The accompanying caption reads: ‘After spending two nights in the underground parking, my parents made a decision at any cost to send me and my little sister out of Ukraine!
‘Mom, Dad….we love you very much, take care of yourself!!! I love you my country!
‘Ukrainians take care of your lives.’
Ukrainian tennis star Dayana Yastremska is the feel good story of the Australian Open – and the 23-year-old has endured more than most to reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park
A photo from the tennis star’s Instagram page dated almost two years ago with her sister shows just how challenging Yastremska’s life has been at times
With the war in the Ukraine ongoing, the siblings fled to France, leaving their parents behind (Dayana Yastremska is pictured, in her quarter-final triumph against Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic)
With the conflict against Russia ongoing, Yastremska and her sister Ivanna fled to Lyon in France, leaving behind their parents in Odesa.
Yastremska later confirmed for her social media followers the siblings were safe after their hometown was targeted, with a number of ships off the port city hit by missiles.
The image at the time of Yastremska and her sister sitting on luggage and wearing matching pink sweatpants and hoodies shocked many tennis fans, as the reality of the invasion in Ukraine hit home for many.
Other Ukrainian residents also left their homes in a hurry, with many hoping to enter Poland, Slovakia, Romania or Hungary due to safety fears.
Fast forward to January 2024 and the former world number 21 next takes on China’s Qinwen Zheng on Thursday night for a spot in the Australian Open final.
Even if she is beaten, Yastremska is guaranteed to take home a whopping $990,000 in prizemoney – with the achievement even more impressive given she battled through qualifying to enter the main draw.
Since turning pro in 2015 while still a teenager, Yastremska’s career hasn’t been without controversy.
While Yastremska’s Australian Open run has been impressive, she isn’t popular with some of her peers on tour
In January of 2021, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced Yastremska had tested positive for a metabolite of mesterolone, an anabolic steroid – and she was provisionally suspended from the sport.
She denied the charges and was eventually cleared six months later following an investigation by the ITF.
Yastremska has also been previously accused of gamesmanship by the likes of former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and Aussie Ajla Tomljanović.
Both suggested Yastremska allegedly exaggerates and fakes injuries when trailing in matches in an attempt to exploit the medical time-out system.
The Ukrainian denies the slur.
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