Unseeded Yastremska stuns Azarenka, hopes Ukraine is proud

Her reward is a clash with unseeded Czech Linda Noskova, who progressed when Ukrainian Elina Svitolina retired with a bad back while trailing 3-0 in the first set

Fearless Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska said she hoped she had made her war-torn country proud by reaching a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final on Monday while admitting it was emotionally hard.

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Victoria Azarenka

Driven by a booming serve and aggressive groundstrokes, the athletic 23-year-old battled past two-time champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena to secure a last-eight berth at the Australian Open. Her reward is a clash with unseeded Czech Linda Noskova, who progressed when Ukrainian Elina Svitolina retired with a bad back while trailing 3-0 in the first set. 

“I think they’re going to be really proud of me and I’m happy to make them be proud,” Yastremska said of Ukrainians back home. Yastremska won three WTA Tour titles as a teenager, but has struggled in recent years, admitting the conflict had affected her game. “A lot of things affected me, and because of that I couldn’t really play like I wanted. Plus, I put a lot of pressure on myself, as well,” she said. Yastremska’s previous best at the Slams was a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon in 2019.

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