Don't be afraid to take the first step,

Life ahead is happy

"My lyrics were mostly about the children," Yastremska explained. "It's not their fault what is going on. But at the same time, it's about the maturity they have.

"It's difficult to explain and to express exactly how it feels, because when you experience that, you feel it. If you didn't experience that, even if you're listening to the song, you won't really understand it."

Amid the weight of it all, Yastremska has regained her winning stroke. The three-time WTA winner roared to the Australian Open semifinals in January for her deepest run in a Grand Slam event.

Yastremska was ranked as high as No. 21 in January 2020 but backslid, finishing just outside the top 100 in 2022 and '23. She has climbed to as high as No. 26 this year.

"I'm actually very proud of myself, because the previous three years has been tough on me," she said. "It's been really tough. I couldn't even get top-70. I just completely took out the pressure. Before that I was putting the pressure on myself too much, about everything.

"Just before the Australian Open I was, 'OK, no more pressure.' I just want feel happy on the court and enjoy (it)."

The court sometimes can be a complicated place, however.

Yastremska shared her knotted emotions when facing opponents from Russia or Belarus, which has supported the invasion.

"Of course it's difficult to play against them," she said. "They are athletes. They are people. You try to separate, you know? But at the same time, you realize deep inside you that you're playing someone from the country that is attacking your country, that is killing the children, killing people in our country.

"It's difficult to separate the athlete and the person from the country that is putting a difficult time on our country and our people."

Memories of that jarring night in Odesa will remain vivid. Tennis has given Yastremska a paycheck but also, more importantly, a voice.

A powerful one at that.

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