DAYANA Yastremska’s breakthrough Australian Open run continues, after she defeated former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka yesterday to progress to her first Australian Open Quarter Final.

After winning the first set in a tie break, Yastremska fought back from 3–0 down in the second set to win it and then take the match 7-6 6-4.

Yastremska finished the match with more aces than her opponent, but also served double the number of double faults.

Azarenka won the break points won battle, but Yastremska did better than the Belarussian in the net points won, service points won and receiving points won categories.

Post-match Yastremska said that she was “super happy”, but also that “it’s not feeling like I’m in quarterfinals…has to be like so special, but [it] feels that I’ve just done, like, small part of what I had to do.”

Yastremska next faces fellow surprise packet Linda Noskova, who progressed yesterday after her opponent, another Ukranian Elina Svitolina, had to retire injured after three games.

Azarenka was not the only seed to fall yesterday, with Jasmine Paolini also losing. The Italian 26th seed was no match for Anna Kalinskaya, who built as the match progressed but was still able to prevail in straight sets.  

The one seed who did make it through yesterday was 12th seed Qinwen Zheng, who was far too strong for Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin. The Chinese star only dropped three games on her way to a straight sets win in just under an hour.

RESULTS:

2024 Australian Open – Day 9

[Q] D. Yastremska def. [18] V. Azarenka 7-6 6-4

[12] Q. Zheng def. O. Dodin 6–0 6-3

L. Noskova def. [19] E. Svitolina 3–0 (RET)

A. Kalinskaya def. [26] J. Paolini 6–4 6-2