Dayana Yastremska talks trial partnership with Alexandra Stevenson after Charleston exit

CHARLESTON—Dayana Yastremska confirmed what many eagle-eyed fans had spotted through her two matches at the Credit One Charleston Open: the former world No. 21 has begun a trial partnership with 1999 Wimbledon semifinalist Alexandra Stevenson.

Yastremska was introduced to Stevenson, a former world No. 18, through Pam Shriver’s newly-launched Yonex Mindset Performance Program. Both known for their hyper-aggressive game styles, Stevenson and Shriver are intriguing additions for Yastremska, herself one of the tour’s most powerful players.

“In Indian Wells, Pam suggested that I try with Alexandra and that she could bring me some experience and help to my game,” Yastremska told me after a three-set defeat to Belinda Bencic on Wednesday. “I came to Miami and before the Miami Open, we trained together.

“She’s currently working with a junior player and she’s under contract with her until the end of the year. So, I don’t know how it’s going to go in the future. Maybe she’ll be able to help me some weeks. We still need to discuss all of that. We will see how the schedule will be made, so I cannot say anything about it. But I did enjoy this week and the days before the tournament, practicing with her and getting experience.”

Shriver announced the YMPP partnership at the start of 2026, having recently coached another Yonex athlete Donna Vekic through a career peak that included a Wimbledon semifinal and Olympic silver medal.

“[Yonex] wants their players to be as healthy as they can in the mindset so they can perform at their best. I’m here to offer my 47 years of experience in professional tennis and going through a lot of difficulties in life. I know how difficult it is to work day by day, step by step on the mindset. I’m ready for this challenge.”

Vekic has also made use of the program this week in Charleston as Shriver was seen in the stands for the qualifier’s first-round win over Ajla Tomljanovic. Yastremska is yet to fully sign onto the YMPP but was eager to learn more about the program following her Charleston exit.

“I need to have some conversations with Pam tonight,” she told me. “Today, she had to be on the neutral side because Belinda is also from Yonex. I feel like they’re really invested in their job of helping players. They’re trying to bring all the experience and all they’ve learned on their life journeys to explain and help us in some ways. It’s nice and interesting.”

Still just 25 years old, Yastremska has struggled for consistency since making her major breakthrough in Melbourne back in 2024, when she reached the Australian Open semifinals as a qualifier.

She gave Bencic everything she could handle Wednesday night, rallying from a set and 4-2 down and nearly pulled off another comeback from 4-1 in the decider before bowing out in three sets.

“Everything takes time,” she told me. “Everything I could bring in these two matches and also in Miami, I tried. Even though the results aren’t showing it, I feel deep inside that I’m in a good and right direction.”