Yastremska Makes History at Australian Open, Showcasing Pride for Ukraine
Melbourne, Australia – Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine has entered the semifinals of the Australian Open, becoming just the second women’s qualifier in the Open Era to achieve this feat in Melbourne. Her exceptional performance not only sets a historic precedent but also serves as a platform for her to exhibit her pride for her war-torn homeland.
In a scorching match on Rod Laver Arena, the 23-year-old broke her opponent, unseeded Czech Linda Noskova, three times to secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory in 78 minutes. Yastremska’s triumph has set up a compelling clash with either unseeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya or Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals.
This impressive achievement by Yastremska marks the first time a women’s qualifier has reached the last four at the season-opening Grand Slam since Australian player Christine Matison achieved the feat in 1978. Reflecting on this milestone, Yastremska remarked, “It’s nice to make history, because at that time I wasn’t even born.”
After her triumph, Yastremska wrote a message of support for Ukrainian fighters involved in the war against Russia on a TV camera lens. Expressing her immense pride for their efforts, she highlighted the importance of constantly bringing attention to her home country. Yastremska sees it as her mission to use her success as a signal to Ukraine, conveying her unwavering support and patriotism.
Yastremska faced an arduous path to qualify for the main draw at Melbourne Park, battling through three qualifying matches that all went the distance. However, she elevated her game when the Grand Slam began by defeating Wimbledon champion and seventh seed Marketa Vondrousova in the first round, as well as eliminating two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.
In her quarterfinal match against Noskova, the 19-year-old Czech player broke Yastremska’s serve in the third game, only for Yastremska to rebound quickly and level the score at 2-2. Another break in the eighth game allowed Yastremska to serve out the set, which she executed flawlessly. The turning point in the second set occurred in the seventh game, as Yastremska unleashed a powerful backhand winner to break Noskova and secure a relatively straightforward victory.
Yastremska, a three-time WTA singles title winner, explained that she had not set specific goals for her performance in Melbourne and was primarily focused on personal development on and off the court. She attributed her success to her mental state and emotions during matches, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the experience.
Yastremska’s outstanding performance in Melbourne is expected to propel her up the rankings. She reached a career-high ranking of 21 in January 2020 before being suspended due to a failed doping test. However, the ban was later lifted, as an independent tribunal recognized that the positive test resulted from contamination.
Outside of tennis, Yastremska has diverse interests, including fashion and music. She teased an upcoming song collaboration with two artists from different countries, suggesting that a new song may be released in February. Although she remained tight-lipped about the details, Yastremska expressed her excitement for the project and asserted that fans would soon have the opportunity to listen to it.