The qualifier Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine) continues her magnificent performance at the Australian Open. The Ukrainian tennis player defeated the two-time Melbourne champion Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) by 2-0 (7:6, 6:4) and reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career.
The 23-year-old Dayana Yastremska saved two set points in the first set and rallied behind with a break in the second to triumph at Rod Laver Arena. The match lasted just over two hours, and former world’s number one Victoria Azarenka may regret the many missed opportunities to put the match under her control.
For a place in the semi-finals, Dayana Yastremska will face with another qualifier – Linda Noskova. She advanced after her match against Elina Svitolina lasted just three games before the Ukrainian withdrew due to a back injury. For Linda Noskova this will also be her debut appearance in such an advanced phase of a Slam tournament.
Dayana Yastremska hinted at her excellent form already in the first round with the victory over Marketa Vondrousova, and then eliminated Varvara Gracheva and Emma Navarro in succession. Against Victoria Azarenka, the Odessa-born tennis player showed strong nerves in the most important moments. She hit 38 winners but committed 37 unforced errors. The Ukrainian was almost perfect in her forays to the net and her aggressive play was rewarded.
Victoria Azarenka trailed 1:3 in the opening set, but took four consecutive games and served to win the first set 5:4. Then she broke and conceded an equalizer. Another break followed in favor of the Belarusian, who, however, was unable to hold her serve this time as well. In the tiebreak, the champion from 2012 and 2013 reached two set points, but Dayana Yastremska saved them, and then won the set 8-6.
Victoria Azarenka broke early in the second set and looked like she might be able to turn the match in her favor, but it didn’t work out that way. At 3:0, she had the opportunity to break for the second time, but she wasted it. Dayana Yastremska not only leveled the games, but also took the lead with 5:3. The Ukrainian showed mental resilience as she served for the match and was deservedly jubilant.
“I think it took me a thousand breaths to calm down because my heart was racing all over my body. The whole match I thought I was going to lose probably 25 times. And in the tiebreak, and in the second set. But I showed that I am a fighter and also thank you for the warm support from the stands”, said the 23-year-old Dayana Yastremska.
