MELBOURNE: Dayana Yastremska, a Ukrainian qualifier, caused an upset by defeating former champion Victoria Azarenka, securing her spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.
Overcoming two set points in the first set and a break down in the second, the 23-year-old emerged victorious with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win on Rod Laver Court.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz aimed to replicate her success, seeking to reach the last eight for the first time. Yastremska’s next challenge is against unseeded Czech player Linda Noskova, who advanced to the quarter-finals after Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina retired with a back injury while trailing 3-0 in the first set.
“I need to take a little bit of time to breathe because my heart I feel is going to jump out of my body,” said Yastremska, who hammered Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round.
“I always felt like I was running behind the train, but I think because I am a little bit of a fighter that’s why I won this match.”
At just 19 years old, Noskova effortlessly advanced as former world number three Svitolina had to retire from their match on Margaret Court Arena. Noskova, seeded 19th, took a medical timeout at 2-0 in the first set for lower back treatment and eventually withdrew after being broken for the second time upon her return.
