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WTA Lyon: Zhang Shuai thwarts Yastremska win

Almost everyone would have given Dayana Yastremska heartily the tournament victory at the WTA event in Lyon this week - but in the end Zhang Shuai (WTA No. 64) was too strong.

by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Mar 06, 2022, 05:19 pm

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Shuai Zhang
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Shuai Zhang

Zhang won after 1 hour and 46 minutes with 3:6, 6:3 and 6:4 against Yastremska, who fought hard until the end, but finally had to settle for second place.

Winner Zhang celebrated her third individual title on the tour, having won in Guangzhou in 2013 and 2017.

Yastremska with an impressive run

Yastremska's run in Lyon was nonetheless impressive, especially given the circumstances: she had fled her native Odessa, Ukraine last week when the Russian attack took place; She finally came to Lyon with her sister via Romania and Hungary. Her parents stayed in Ukraine.

The 21-year-old then played her way to the final, in the first match against Ana Bogdan she had to fend off two match points . The tournament victory was now denied her.

Yastremska will still make a big leap back towards the top 100: she was excluded from the tour for six months in 2021 due to a doping ban and is currently only in 140th place.

Her best ranking was 21st.

by Florian Goosmann

Sunday
Mar 06, 2022, 05:10 pm
last edit: Mar 06, 2022, 05:19 pm