Ukrainian tennis player resumes career after bone marrow transplant with victory

Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Korashvili won her debut match after resuming her professional career. The 27-year-old native of Odesa defeated local player Anamaria Kurtsikashvili 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the 1st round of the ITF Georgia 01A qualifying tournament.

On Monday, Korashvili will play 19-year-old Russian player Kira Pavlova in the 2nd round.

Korashvili lived and studied in America, where she fell ill in 2020. She developed a headache, shortness of breath, severe fatigue, loss of appetite, weight, and a 40-degree temperature. She was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with myelofibrosis.

For reference: MDS is the general name for a group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell diseases that result in the production of altered red blood cells, lymphocytes and platelets in the body. Lack of healthy blood cells that perform important functions can lead to malfunctioning of the entire body, and the disease can transform into acute myeloid leukaemia.

The only effective cure for the disease is a bone marrow transplant, which Korashvili underwent in 2021 in Turkey.

At one time, she wrote that the cost of a transplant would be USD 86,200 if the donor was a relative. If a donor has to be searched in the registry, the cost of the operation will be $126,000.

Over the course of her career, Oleksandra has risen to 414th place in the WTA singles rankings in 2016 and was ranked 202nd in the doubles classification in 2015.

Our compatriot has 3 singles victories at ITF tournaments and 14 doubles titles. In 2013, Sasha, together with Barbora Krejčíková (Czech Republic), reached the doubles final of the Australian Junior Open, where they lost to Carol Zhao (Canada) and Ana Konjuh (Croatia).

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