Stadium Court docket Six at Indian Wells will on Friday play host to 2 Ukrainian sisters, who escaped from Odessa when the bombs began falling.
The Yastremskas went first to Lyon, the place Dayana completed runner-up within the singles, and Ivanna made her WTA debut alongside her sister within the doubles.
Now in California, the sisters are pairing up once more to play Irina Camelia-Begu and Monica Niculescu of Romania.
“I might say we’re extra like associates,” Dayana advised BBC Sport.
Dayana is 21, however Ivanna is simply 15. So the older sister has needed to tackle some parental tasks as effectively.
“Earlier than, I do not bear in mind after we have been spending that a lot time collectively, or travelling collectively, and it is a fairly excessive duty on me now,” she added.
“I am attempting my greatest. I am attempting to make some enjoyable so she will really feel fairly relaxed. She seems to be very tall and large, however inside she could be very small and he or she misses her dad and mom.
“Once I misplaced the ultimate in Lyon we went again to the room – she began to cry and saying I need to go dwelling, I need to see the dad and mom. And I felt additionally very unhealthy and I needed to attempt to calm her down.”
When the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, the sisters spent two nights sheltering with their dad and mom in an underground automobile park in Odessa, a southwestern metropolis on the Black Sea.
Their father determined they need to depart the nation as quickly as attainable, and they also made their method to the Romanian border on the Danube river with their mom.
Mum, although, had determined she ought to return to be along with her husband, and so the sisters travelled on with out her to Lyon to compete on the WTA Tour.
It isn’t all the time simple for them to talk to their dad and mom because the web is intermittent, and they’re spending a few of their time sheltering beneath floor. However no less than there may be to this point no injury to the household dwelling.
“We live someplace on the aspect of Odessa, the place normally now they aren’t placing bombs, rockets and capturing,” Dayana defined.
“Our home is close to the ocean and for now this a part of Odessa isn’t destroyed. However it’s sort of harmful as a result of our home is sort of excessive and it is probably the greatest flats in Odessa. And we’re additionally dwelling fairly excessive on flooring 12.”
Dayana now walks onto court docket with the Ukrainian flag draped round her shoulders. She did so in Lyon, the place solely Zhang Shuai might cease her within the last, after which once more in Indian Wells on Wednesday when she misplaced a good three-set match to Caroline Garcia.
“Once we arrived to Lyon, I understood that I’ve to play good. I’ve to play not just for myself however no less than for my nation as a result of for those who play good you could have extra alternative to speak about your story, and Ukraine, and extra individuals can hear you,” Dayana continued.
“I strive to not put collectively individuals and their character with their politics. So after I meet the Russian gamers, I keep the identical with them.
“It is nothing about precisely them, and they’re supporting and asking ‘How’s your loved ones?’ I feel they sort of perceive what’s going on. I am OK with all people.”
Yastremska is at present simply outdoors the world’s high 100, however has gained three WTA titles and been as excessive as 21 within the rankings.
She missed the primary six months of final 12 months after testing optimistic for an anabolic agent. The ban was later lifted by an impartial tribunal which accepted the optimistic check had been contaminated.
So she has a profession to consider, at a time when all her ideas are with household and associates nonetheless in Ukraine.
Dayana and Ivanna will stick collectively. They plan to maneuver on to Miami subsequent, after which probably to Bogota or Istanbul.
“I am unsure if we’re going to be again to Ukraine,” Dayana mentioned on the finish of our dialog.
“If the battle goes to cease, then we are going to go to see the household. If not, then we’re going to fly from one match to a different match.”
