Iryna Shymanovich, a Belarusian tennis player aiming to qualify for Wimbledon, fought back tears during a live BBC interview after winning her second-round qualifying match at the All England Club. The 30-year-old defeated Greet Minnen in straight sets, moving one step closer to her first main draw appearance at Wimbledon. Earlier, she had overcome Dominika Salkova in the first round.
Emotional Tribute to Her Late Father
Speaking to the BBC after the match, Shymanovich became visibly emotional as she discussed the loss of her father earlier this year. “It’s quite tough but when he was about to pass away he left messages to all members of our family and to me he said that he wants me to play, to keep fighting and don’t stop,” she said. “I have been struggling a lot with injuries, with a lot of problems all my career through juniors, and I said: ‘OK there is no other way than to keep fighting and if he wanted me to do this then I will make him happy out there’. So I am fighting for both of us.”
Grand Slam Experience
Shymanovich’s only previous main draw appearance at a Grand Slam came during the 2023 French Open. She is now one match away from securing a spot in the Wimbledon singles draw, with a clash against Katherine Sebov scheduled next. The win over Minnen marked a significant step in her quest to honor her father’s memory.
Instagram Post Details Grief
Earlier, Shymanovich had opened up about her father’s death in a heartfelt Instagram post. She wrote: “I fought with everything I had. I left my heart, my soul, and every lesson my dad had ever taught me out there. We battled for almost three hours. I lost in a close three-set match, but when I walked off that court, I was proud. I couldn’t wait to call my dad. To tell him how well I played. To tell him how I fought until the very last point. To hear him say how proud he was. But it was already too late. Right after that match, I found out that my dad had passed away.”
She continued: “When I left home to play in Linz, I could never have imagined it would be the last time I would see my dad alive. The last time I would hug him. The last time I would hold his hand. A few weeks later, instead of seeing him waiting for me at home, I was standing by his grave. My dad was my first coach, my biggest supporter, and the person who taught me how to dream. He taught me how to fight, how to never give up, and how to keep believing even when the road gets hard. Everything I am today started with him. Every time I step on court, a part of him is there with me. Sometimes I still look toward our team box and imagine him sitting beside Leandro, watching every point, just like he always did.”
