© Getty Images Sport – Darrian Traynor
Maryna Zanevska woke up feeling absolutely crushed and heartbroken after Russia’s overnight drone attacks on Odesa left three killed and eight wounded as the former tennis player revealed it happened near her parents’ home.
On Saturday morning, it was reported that a Russian drone hit an apartment block in Odesa and that three were killed, including a three-year-old child. Overnight, Russia attacked the Odesa region with a total of eight drones. While the Ukrainian forces were able to shoot down seven of the eight drones launched at the Odesa region, one made its way onto a residential building and the consequences were fatal.
Zanevska, who was born in Odesa, had a very hard time after learning about the news.
“This morning is difficult…(crying emojis),” Zanevska wrote in a message posted on her Instagram Story.
“There is everyday something happening in Ukraine people keep dying. But this morning … it hit me. (One more time) Odesa (heartbroken emoji). Just around the corner of my parents’ place.”
Zanevska shares an inspiring message
In a follow-up Instagram Story, Zanevska wrote: “You are healthy. You are alive. You are lucky one! The rest of the problems doesn’t matter.”
Meanwhile, 30-year-old Zanevska recently retired from tennis. Zanevska, who switched to representing Belgium in 2016, walked away from pro tennis after the 2023 US Open due to a chronic back injury.
“It’s time to say goodbye to tennis for now. I have been struggling with back pain for the last 4 years, and I got to the point where I can’t give to tennis what’s required to be competitive on the highest level of this extremely difficult, demanding sport,” Zanevska announced in August.
When announcing her retirement, former world No. 62 Zanevska – who won her first and lone WTA title in 2021 Gdynia – didn’t shut the doors on possibly playing again in the future.
“And who knows what’s future holds for me. Will I ever make come back on tour or will have other challenges in life?” Zanevska said at the time.
