“Two days ago we were bombed in my city”: Dayana Yastremska, the Ukrainian tennis player who plays the Colsanitas Cup in Bogotá

The 29th edition of the Colsanitas Cup is currently being played, the WTA tournament in Bogotá that will be held until April 10. In this tournament, Colombian María Camila Osorio is one of the favorites in the title.

The Bogota tournament also features Swedish Rebecca Peterson, Hungarian Panna Udvardy, Czech Marie Bouzkova, France's Harmony Tan, Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Australia's Astra Sharma and Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska, who was recently finalist in the WTA 500 Dubai.

To date, Yastremska is ranked as the 104th tennis player in the world ranking. In addition, this Monday she won her first victory in the Colsanitas Cup after beating Hungarian Panna Udvardy 7-5 and 6-1. From the first moment he arrived on the court, he was carrying, tied to his wrist, a flag of his country, which is experiencing an armed conflict with Russia.

After finishing her first match of the Colombian tournament, the tennis player gave a press conference in which, in addition to the duel played, she spoke about the current situation in her country, which has been strongly affected by the bombings broadcast from Russia.

“It's very nice to be back in Bogotá. The conditions to play here are very difficult because of the height, but after several days I adapt a little. It wasn't an easy game because of the conditions, but I'm really happy because I won my first round and I'm waiting for my next round,” he began by saying.

And she confessed that: To be honest, it is very difficult to describe because I really want to be in my house, I want to see my parents. I have to be focused on tennis because I think that's where I can put all my emotions and thoughts. I think tennis has helped me a lot. Besides, we don't know how the world is going to end and what is going to happen and my parents tell me that I should look to the future and take responsibility for my younger sister and I try, but it's really hard to describe.”

Currently, his parents are in his hometown, Odessa, which has also had to live through the conflict. “I talked to my parents, they are at home, in Odessa. I was told things are worse. Two days ago we were attacked with bombs in my city.”

On the other hand, he commented on the conversations he has had these days in Bogotá with his parents about the current situation in their country. “My dad is controlling my foundation, I have a foundation where we do community help. With a deputy from my city we created a community corridor from Europe to Odessa and my dad is the one in control of that. More than 100,000 tons of humanitarian aid were sent to us from Spain and we sent it to different cities to help children, the military, civilians and anyone who needs it. My parents and family are in charge of the foundation and we are trying to do everything we can to help. I just hope everything will be okay.”

Finally, he sent a message to his compatriots. “I will only give the message to the Ukrainians: I am very proud of them and they are warriors.”

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