Tennis News: In a match with an age difference of 20 years, 20-year-old Dayana Yastremska beat veteran host Venus Williams in the first round of the Cincinnati Open (Western & Southern Open) with a pretty tight result 5-7, 6-2 , 7-5.
Dayana Yastremska took 2 hours 36 minutes to claim victory after Facing Williams for the first time in his career. He squandered a 4-2 lead in the first set before losing five of the last six games.
After overcoming an injury sustained in the first set when he injured his right ankle and briefly asked for a break to treat his ankle, world number 25 Yastremska found his best form in the second set and appeared dominant before claiming the third with a tight result like the one in the first.
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“I am very happy that I won and at the same time, I also feel very sad because I had a really convincing chance in the first set. But when I injured my ankle, honestly my mind went in a completely different direction. I started thinking about just the pain, how I injured him, and what would happen next, “said Ukrainian national Yastremska.
“I really wanted to resign after the first game of the second set when I lost, but after that, in the second game when I served, I told myself that I wasn’t going to quit, that I was going to fight until the end. It doesn’t matter how I finish it, but I have to finish the match. I really have to fight the pain. “
After the match, Yastremska also revealed that overcoming his fear of injury actually helped him to compete more freely as the match progressed.
“I became a little calmer and I started making more informed decisions. I’m just trying to keep it simpler. I’m not really focused on doing anything special, because I know I can’t move really well. I just started to put the ball back on the pitch and I think that’s the key, “explained Yastremska.
In the second half, Yastremska will face Williams’ compatriot Bernarda Pera, who defeated British national Heather Watson 6-1 3-6 6-3.
