Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska secured a dramatic comeback victory over American of Ukrainian descent Katie Volynets in the first round of the WTA 250 tournament in Guangzhou. The match, which lasted 2 hours and 44 minutes, became one of the most thrilling of the season: the Odesa native was trailing in the second set, and in the deciding set was down 5:2 with two breaks against her, even facing the prospect of losing the match. However, she managed to save all three match points in the tiebreak and closed out the encounter in her favor with a score of 7:5, 1:6, 7:6(7).
First set: Decisive break at the finish
The beginning of the match was closely contested. Neither tennis player was able to seize the initiative for long, and the decisive break occurred only in the final games of the set. Yastremska converted a crucial service game from her opponent and took the first set 7:5, moving ahead in the match.
Second set: Volynets seizes the initiative
In the second set, the American of Ukrainian descent completely turned the momentum around. Volynets broke Yastremska twice and comfortably cruised to a 6:1 victory. The match score was leveled, leaving the outcome to be decided in the final set.
Third set: Comeback and three saved match points
The greatest drama unfolded in the deciding set. Volynets surged ahead 5:2 with two breaks and had the opportunity to serve for the match. Yastremska did not break down: she fought back, leveled the score, but immediately dropped her serve again. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian broke back a second time to deny her opponent a match-ending game. A tiebreak determined the winner, during which Volynets was three times just a step away from victory. Yastremska warded off all three match points, converted her own fourth attempt, and sealed the victory.
2026 Season: Inconsistent, but with important results
The current season has been up and down for Yastremska, yet it features several significant achievements. In May, she reached the semifinals of the WTA 125 tournament in Parma and won a main-draw match at Wimbledon. In the autumn, the Ukrainian advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing with two consecutive wins, and in Wuhan she defeated Cristina Bucșa, Spain's number one. This victory marked Yastremska's fifth win of the season against a top-50 opponent.
Return to the top 100 and next opponent
Before the start of the tournament in Guangzhou, Yastremska was outside the top 100 of the WTA rankings but successfully came through the qualifiers. Her victory over Emerson Jones in the qualifying final allowed her to return to the top 100 in the live rankings. In the second round in Guangzhou, the Ukrainian will face China's Han Shi. To advance to the next stage, Yastremska will need another victory at her opponent's home tournament.
