City College tennis duo Yana Buryak and Irina Yakimchuk take a moment to pose during practice Feb. 9 on the City College tennis courts. photo by Robert Paul
Katya Quezada | Staff Writer
quezadk@imail.losrios.edu
For City College’s best women’s tennis pair, Yanna Buryak and Irana Yakinchut, the new season means honoring their team and their coach.
The solidarity is evident when you see Buryak and Yakinchut play together. Their love of the game shows in the dedication they put into tennis practice. The partners, who are deadly on the court and friends off the court, have been appropriately nicknamed “The Russian Mafia” by their teammates and coach.
Both have been playing tennis for three years. Yakinchut and Buryak know exactly what they need for the season.
“We want to improve serves and ground strokes,” Buryak stressed. “We love tennis.”
“Yes, we love the game,” Yakinchut said.
Tennis isn’t the only thing the pair is passionate about. They both love science, but the strongest bond between them is the love for tennis.
Of course, they didn’t reach the top without hard work and dedication. They both are constantly practicing, individually and as a team. Communication, they say, is a key factor and it is something they have come to master over their tenure as partners.
“When I want her to get the ball, I tell her, ‘It’s yours,’ Yakinchut said.
Now that the new season is beginning, success means more matches won and a trip to the championship. The Russian Mafia is clearly a duo to be reckoned with this season.
Connect with us!