'The hardest match of my life emotionally' - Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska on tennis during Russia invasion

Dayana Yastremska has spoken powerfully about the feelings that she has been dealing with in trying to play tennis while her homeland of Ukraine is being invaded by Russia. Speaking with Eurosport, Yastremska opened up about her emotional struggles on and off the court with her country suffering greatly at the hands of its neighbour. Her compatriot, Elina Svitolina, gave her equally moving thoughts in an interview last week Ad/> «It was the hardest match of my life emotionally and what I felt inside,» said Yastremska, who saw off Ana Bogdan in three sets at the Lyon Open on Tuesday.

WTA Monterrey'I was on a mission for my country' — Svitolina wears Ukraine colours in easy win over PotapovaYESTERDAY AT 09:01 «There are no words to describe it because, as I said on the court, my heart stays in Ukraine and my mind has to be on the court and fighting. It is very hard to find the balance. It was very hard to be able to deal with the emotions.

»In your head, there are a lot of thoughts, and with my family in Ukraine, a lot of people are fighting there. Of course this win, compared to what is going on in Ukraine, is nothing. But at least I'm trying my best also to fight for my country.

«Where I can do that, where I can fight, is a tennis court. So I'm also trying to show the maximum support from my side. My sister right now is the closest person who is with me, and she is also a big support, especially yesterday in the match.

I could see how nervous she was; even after the match, she was so emotional. »She started to cry a little that she wants to be back home with her family. I can understand that she is still small and we miss our parents, of course, and we miss our city.