Ukrainian woman talks about exhausting work as a coach in the USA and living without a home for four years
Ukrainian tennis player Yulia Starodubtseva, ranked 89th in the world, has transformed from a qualifying player to the main character in global sports media within a week. On the eve of the final against Jessica Pegula, the WTA website published an interview with the Ukrainian, revealing previously unknown facts about her thorny path to the top.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the official website of the organization.
Also read: Ukrainian sensation against the billionaire: Starodubtseva will fight for a historic title in the USA
Four years without a home
For Yulia, this tournament is not about the dry numbers of the ranking. It is a personal drama for a girl who has not seen her native Nova Kakhovka for four years due to the full-scale invasion and occupation of the city. Currently, Yulia lives in Berlin and is preparing to move to Barcelona, but her heart remains at home, where her father, grandfather, and grandmother live.
“I miss home terribly. I haven’t seen my dad for four years. I constantly think about how we can all be together again. Maybe it will be easier now – I feel that a lot depends on the result of the final,” the tennis player admits.
Even from thousands of kilometers away, her father remains her main “engine.” After her semifinal victory, he texted Yulia in the middle of the night, urging her not to stop: “How do you feel? Is there adrenaline? Can you go train right now?” Yulia replies: “Dad, I’m already in bed!”
“This is purely our Eastern European mentality – always wanting more,” she explains.
Sending love home #CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/ucVexGhtS2
– Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 4, 2026
After her semifinal victory, Yulia left a touching note on the camera lens saying “Nova Kakhovka”
From tennis teacher to WTA finalist
Starodubtseva’s path to the elite has been challenging. At 17, she faced a choice: pursue professional tennis or go to university.
At that time, she was not financially ready to play on the pro tour, so she chose Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. A decisive factor was that there were already Ukrainian players there, and the university offered a full scholarship, meals, and housing.
“I had no idea what an American university was and how big of a deal it was,” she confessed.
There, she earned two degrees – in intercultural communication and sports management. She also found love – Australian Pearse Dolan, who is now her coach.
However, the real toughening began after graduation. To earn money for the start of her professional career, Yulia worked for a year as an ordinary coach at a country club near New York.
“I worked 10 hours a day: women’s and men’s groups, kids, camps…” the tennis player recalls.
Alongside coaching, she played UTR tournaments (mass competitions at a lower level) to gradually return to professional tennis. At that level, she achieved a record of 22 wins and 1 loss in singles. The only loss was to McCartney Kessler, whom she defeated in the quarterfinals of this year’s Charleston.
What’s at stake in the decisive battle
Today, Yulia’s phone is literally “blowing up” with messages, but she deliberately turned off Instagram to maintain her focus. Ahead is a battle with the current tournament champion Jessica Pegula.
For Starodubtseva, this final is a chance not only to write her name in history but also to secure a financial and ranking foundation to finally bring her loved ones to a safe place. When a meeting with her father after four years of separation is at stake, the motivation becomes stronger than any opponent’s experience.
The final match will begin today, April 5, at 8:00 PM Kyiv time.
Earlier, we reported how Angelina Kalinina lost her title in Croatia after a streak of 14 consecutive wins.
