Ukrainian tennis star through to Lyon Open final after fleeing Odessa last week

Dayana Yastremska is through to the Lyon Open final just a week after fleeing her home country of Ukraine. 

The 21-year-old wildcard beat second seed Sorana Cirstea in three sets, to move within one victory of a fourth WTA title. 

Remarkably, before arriving in France this week, Yastremska spent two nights sheltering in an underground car park with her 15-year-old sister, having fled the city of Odessa, which is being threatened by Russian troops. 

Posting on her Instagram once she had left Ukraine, Yastremska wrote: “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”.

Yastremska and her sister Ivanna competed in the doubles tournament in Lyon but were knocked out in the opening round. 

In singles, Yastremska was unseeded for the tournament and is currently ranked 140th in the world. Yet, the former junior Grand Slam runner-up has won four matches in succession and dropped just two sets along the way. 

Too good