"I played for myself and for my country. I was very emotional and I was very tired after winning difficult matches. I would have liked to have had more freshness for the final. I didn't I didn't evolve at my best level but I gave everything I could. I drew a lot of energy from the support of the public", delivered Yastremska, struggling to hold back her tears at the time of the awards ceremony. , with, always, its yellow and blue Ukrainian flag on the shoulders.

Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, in tears after her victory in the semi-final against Romania's Sorana Cirstea, on March 5, 2022 at the WTA tournament in Lyon OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP

Zhang Shuai (33), victorious over Caroline Garcia in the semi-finals (6-2, 7-5), proved to be too solid an opponent and undoubtedly fresher physically and mentally.

Chinese Zhang Shuai, during her match against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, on April 20, 2021 at the Stuttgart Grand Prix Thomas KIENZLE POOL/AFP/Archives

She had notably won by abandonment (3-0 in the first set) against the Russian Vitalia Diatchenko, Friday in the quarter-finals.

She only lost one set the entire tournament.

However, the young 21-year-old Ukrainian, recipient of an invitation on February 22, two days before the start of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army, could believe it: she had won the first set. and led 2-0 then 4-2 in the last before cracking, probably as much from fatigue as emotionally.

"It was a difficult week, very emotional. A difficult day too, a very hard match. I fought for Ukraine and I thank people for their state of mind in the country where they fight", insisted the player, who concluded her speech with a "Slava Ukraini" ("Glory to Ukraine").

Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, during her semi-final against Romanian Sorana Cirstea, on March 5, 2022 at the WTA tournament in Lyon OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE AFP

She also announced, at a press conference, to donate her endowment, just over 14,500 euros, to a humanitarian foundation in her country.

With her younger sister Ivanna (15), she had left her hometown of Odessa before leaving her parents at the Romanian border.

And since their departure, she hasn't really heard from her.

It was from Bucharest that they joined France and Lyon where they arrived on February 26.

Dayana Yastremska, ex-21st in the world before being suspended for doping and finally cleared, had not played in the final since January 2020.

His career will allow him Monday to climb to the gates of the Top 100 (101st) and also arouses a real surge of sympathy around him.

Thus, she obtained an invitation to play the India Wells tournament in the United States where she could no longer participate in the qualifications.

According to her agent, she should also be able to play in Miami afterwards before the European tour.

© 2022 AFP