Dayana Yastremska will donate her prize money from the Lyon Open to aid efforts in Ukraine after reaching the final of the tournament.
The Ukrainian fled her home country with her younger sister days after Russia’s invasion began, after spending two nights in an underground car park.
Yastremska then won four matches to reach the final in Lyon, where she won the first before Zhang Shuai eventually beat her 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Despite that defeat, it was a remarkable effort from the 21-year-old to produce on the court considering the circumstances, and she announcer all money she won at the tournament will be donated to Ukraine.
“The prize money I earn here I’m going to give to the Ukrainian Foundation to support Ukraine,” Yastremska said.
“If Ukrainian people are watching me, I want to say ‘you guys are so strong, you have an amazing spirit, and I tried to fight for Ukraine’.
“I want to say thanks to every single person for standing by Ukraine.”
After the match, she tweeted: ”My beloved Ukraine, I really wanted to win this one for you!!
“I gave my absolute best throughout this week because that’s what Ukrainians do! Thank you for all the support I received this week, it means the world to me. I am forever grateful.”
