Ukrainian Star Marina Zanevska Panics and Cries as siren sounds during WTA match’ Zanevska, ranked 75th in the WTA rankings, cruised to a 6-2 triumph in the first set against American Katie Volynets at the 125 event.
But she then burst into tears on the court after a siren that went off for a short period triggered stress and panic amid Russia‘s invasion of her homeland.
After attempting to continue playing, despite being visibly affected by the sound, Zanevska lost the match 6-2, 4-6, 5-7.
Ukrainian Star Marina Zanevska Panics and Cries
Zanevska, the women’s third seed at the Saint-Malo Open, is officially a Belgian player, but she was born in Odesa, a port city in southern Ukraine.
And she has since taken to Instagram, stating that the siren badly affected her game despite never personally experiencing a siren in Ukraine.
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She wrote: “I had very weird feelings today during my match after winning the first set!
“I have no idea why, but the siren was on! For maybe 20 seconds, but it felt like forever. I started to cry badly! I couldn’t stop!
“I haven’t been in Ukraine since February 24. I have never experienced a siren, but it was such a triggering sound!
“My heartbeat was 200! I was overwhelmed! Usually, when I step on the court, it’s my place where I forget about my problems. But here, it hit me badly!”
Zanevska looked set to cruise through her second match at the tournament before the siren thwarted her, breezing past Brazilian Laura Pigossi 6-2, 6-0 and outclassing Volynets in the early stages.
She has 37,000 followers on Instagram, using the platform to update fans on her professional and personal life.
Currently living in Germany, she founded a Dusseldorf-based company named Savage Love Candles, specialising in soy wax candles and home decor.
But Zanevska is a full-time player on the WTA Tour and will hope to bounce back from what seems to have been a traumatic experience.
