Dayana Yastremska Falls in First Round
Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska lost to neutral competitor Anastasia Zakharova in the opening round of the Internazionali d'Italia. The match ended with a score of 4:6, 7:5, 7:6 in favor of Zakharova. Across three hard-fought sets, Yastremska—ranked as Ukraine's third-best player—showed solid performance but could not secure the win.
Yastremska broke Zakharova's serve in the tenth game of the first set, but the momentum shifted in the second. Although Yastremska jumped to a 3:0 lead early in set two, Zakharova fought back with four breaks of serve to take that set. The decisive third set came down to a tense tiebreak, where Yastremska led 6:1 before ultimately losing the match.
Other Ukrainian Players Find Success
Meanwhile, Oleksandra Oliynykova advanced to the second round in Rome by defeating Croatia's Marčinko 6:1, 6:3. Oliynykova will next face Danish player Clara Tauson. Unfortunately, Marta Kostyuk withdrew from the tournament due to a hip injury, choosing to prioritize recovery ahead of the French Open.
The Rome tournament is a key warm-up event for Ukrainian players preparing for the French Open. Despite her loss, Yastremska showed she can compete at a high level, while Oliynykova continues her run, which could boost her ranking. Kostyuk's withdrawal highlights the challenge of staying healthy during a busy stretch of the season.
As Yastremska exits the tournament, the focus shifts to other Ukrainian competitors in Rome. Notably, Marta Kostyuk's recent withdrawal due to injury raises questions about her readiness for the upcoming French Open. Meanwhile, Oleksandra Oliynykova's progress could provide a silver lining for Ukraine in this crucial preparatory event.