<p>Dayana Yastremska beat Czech Linda Noskova 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday to book a semi-final spot at the Australian Open, becoming the first women's qualifier to reach the last four in Melbourne since the 1978 tournament. Battling in 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) heat, the Ukrainian's powerful forehand eventually overcame the 19-year-old Czech, who was the youngest player left in the draw.</p>

<p>Yastremska, 23, follows in the footsteps of Christine Dorey, the last qualifier to reach the Melbourne Park semis 45 years ago. "I think it's nice to make history because at that time I wasn't born," Yastremska said on court after the match. "It's next generation making history and I'm so happy, and tired."</p>

<p>The players traded breaks early in the first set, but it was Yastremska who took the lead in the eighth game when Noskova netted a backhand. Despite failing to get nearly half her first serves in, the Ukrainian kept the pressure on with a string of forehand winners throughout the match.</p>

<p>Noskova failed to capitalise on a break point when she was down 5-3 and Yastremska wrapped up the first set in 36 minutes with another well-targeted forehand. Both players went off court after the first set, escaping the heat, and Noskova had a long chat with her coach on her return.</p>

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<p>The players were on level pegging throughout the second set until the seventh game when Yastremska locked it up on her third break point with a backhand winner that left Noskova stranded on the far side of the court. She closed out the match on serve when Noskova's backhand return hit the net, ending the Czech's bid for her first tour singles title and becoming the first qualifier to reach this stage of a Grand Slam since Emma Raducanu won the U.S. Open in 2021.</p>

<p>"I don't really feel like I'm playing good, I just try to play like I can because I'm really tired," Yastremska said. "I'm trying to take the maximum that I can from myself and the rest is just fight." The world number 93, who has already beaten two Grand Slam champions during the tournament, next faces either 12th seed Zheng Qinwen of China or Russian world number 75 Anna Kalinskaya, who play their quarter-final later on Wednesday.</p>


Dayana Yastremska beat Czech Linda Noskova 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday to book a semi-final spot at the Australian Open, becoming the first women's qualifier to reach the last four in Melbourne since the 1978 tournament.

Dayana Yastremska beat Czech Linda Noskova 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday to book a semi-final spot at the Australian Open, becoming the first women's qualifier to reach the last four in Melbourne since the 1978 tournament. Battling in 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) heat, the Ukrainian's powerful forehand eventually overcame the 19-year-old Czech, who was the youngest player left in the draw. Yastremska, 23, follows in the footsteps of Christine Dorey, the last qualifier to reach the Melbourne Park semis 45 years ago. "I think it's nice to make history because at that time I wasn't born," Yastremska said on court after the match. "It's next generation making history and I'm so happy, and tired." The players traded breaks early in the first set, but it was Yastremska who took the lead in the eighth game when Noskova netted a backhand. Despite failing to get nearly half her first serves in, the Ukrainian kept the pressure on with a string of forehand winners throughout the match. Noskova failed to capitalise on a break point when she was down 5-3 and Yastremska wrapped up the first set in 36 minutes with another well-targeted forehand. Both players went off court after the first set, escaping the heat, and Noskova had a long chat with her coach on her return. Also read: Australian Open: Rohan Bopanna becomes oldest world number one in men's doubles after entry in semis × The players were on level pegging throughout the second set until the seventh game when Yastremska locked it up on her third break point with a backhand winner that left Noskova stranded on the far side of the court. She closed out the match on serve when Noskova's backhand return hit the net, ending the Czech's bid for her first tour singles title and becoming the first qualifier to reach this stage of a Grand Slam since Emma Raducanu won the U.S. Open in 2021. "I don't really feel like I'm playing good, I just try to play like I can because I'm really tired," Yastremska said. "I'm trying to take the maximum that I can from myself and the rest is just fight." The world number 93, who has already beaten two Grand Slam champions during the tournament, next faces either 12th seed Zheng Qinwen of China or Russian world number 75 Anna Kalinskaya, who play their quarter-final later on Wednesday.

Australian Open: Qualifier Dayana Yastremska goes past Linda Noskova to book semifinal spot

<p>Qualifier Dayana Yastremska continued her fairytale run into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday with a 7-6(6) 6-4 upset of twice former champion and 18th seed Victoria Azarenka. The Ukrainian world number 93, who stunned Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round, had to fight hard but was rewarded for her aggression with 38 winners to forge on into a half of the draw devoid of top 10 seeds.</p>

<p>"I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my body," the 23-year-old said after the biggest win of her career. "I was losing the tiebreak, I was losing the second set, I was always felt like I was running behind the train. But I think I'm a little bit of a fighter so that's why I won this match."</p>

<p>In a punishing baseline battle with virtually no net play, Yastremska got the first of the six breaks of serve in the opening set only for Azarenka to rattle off the next four games to edge in front. Azarenka, back-to-back champion in 2012-2013 and a Melbourne semi-finalist last year, served for the set but Yastremska kept up the pressure through five deuces and finally converted her fourth break point to force a tiebreak.</p>

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<p>The tiebreak was just as tight but the Ukrainian sealed it with her 21st winner, a blistering forehand that was just too fast and too deep for 34-year-old Azarenka. Both players took lengthy bathroom breaks after the first set and Belarusian Azarenka came out firing, racing to a 3-0 lead almost before Yastremska had time to catch her breath.</p>

<p>The Ukrainian stalled Azarenka's progress and then went back on the attack, finding her rasping winners again to win five straight games. She held her nerve serving for the match two games later, lashing across one more big backhand to set up a meeting with Czech world number 50 Linda Noskova in her first Grand Slam quarter-final.</p>

<p>Talking about Noskova, 19, she barely broke a sweat to progress after former world number three Svitolina was unable to complete her match on Margaret Court Arena. The 19th seed needed a medical timeout at 2-0 down in the first set, during which she received treatment for her lower back, and she pulled out after being broken for the second time on her return.</p>


Qualifier Dayana Yastremska continued her fairytale run into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday with a 7-6(6) 6-4 upset of twice former champion and 18th seed Victoria Azarenka.

Qualifier Dayana Yastremska continued her fairytale run into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday with a 7-6(6) 6-4 upset of twice former champion and 18th seed Victoria Azarenka. The Ukrainian world number 93, who stunned Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round, had to fight hard but was rewarded for her aggression with 38 winners to forge on into a half of the draw devoid of top 10 seeds. "I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my body," the 23-year-old said after the biggest win of her career. "I was losing the tiebreak, I was losing the second set, I was always felt like I was running behind the train. But I think I'm a little bit of a fighter so that's why I won this match." In a punishing baseline battle with virtually no net play, Yastremska got the first of the six breaks of serve in the opening set only for Azarenka to rattle off the next four games to edge in front. Azarenka, back-to-back champion in 2012-2013 and a Melbourne semi-finalist last year, served for the set but Yastremska kept up the pressure through five deuces and finally converted her fourth break point to force a tiebreak. Also read: Denver Nuggets roll past Washington Wizards as Nikola Jokic pours in 42 × The tiebreak was just as tight but the Ukrainian sealed it with her 21st winner, a blistering forehand that was just too fast and too deep for 34-year-old Azarenka. Both players took lengthy bathroom breaks after the first set and Belarusian Azarenka came out firing, racing to a 3-0 lead almost before Yastremska had time to catch her breath. The Ukrainian stalled Azarenka's progress and then went back on the attack, finding her rasping winners again to win five straight games. She held her nerve serving for the match two games later, lashing across one more big backhand to set up a meeting with Czech world number 50 Linda Noskova in her first Grand Slam quarter-final. Talking about Noskova, 19, she barely broke a sweat to progress after former world number three Svitolina was unable to complete her match on Margaret Court Arena. The 19th seed needed a medical timeout at 2-0 down in the first set, during which she received treatment for her lower back, and she pulled out after being broken for the second time on her return.

Qualifier Dayana Yastremska ousts Victoria Azarenka at Australian Open

<p>Dayana Yastremska's unexpected run to the Lyon Open final ended in defeat on Sunday but the Ukrainian said she would donate her prize money towards aid efforts following Russia's invasion of her country 10 days ago.</p>

<p>Yastremska, who has won three WTA titles, fled Ukraine with her younger sister with help from their parents just days after the invasion began on Feb. 24.</p>

<p>She said she spent two nights in an underground parking lot before they fled.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/international-judo-federation-removes-vladimir-putin-arkady-rotenberg-from-all-positions-amid-ukraine-war-459891">International Judo Federation removes Vladimir Putin, Arkady Rotenberg from all positions amid Ukraine war</a></p>

<p>The 21-year-old took the first set against Zhang Shuai before losing 3-6 6-3 6-4 to the eighth seed, who came back from 4-2 down in the decider to clinch the title.</p>

<p>"The prize money I earn here I'm going to give to the Ukrainian Foundation to support Ukraine," Yastremska, who draped her country's flag around her shoulders, said at the trophy presentation.</p>

<p>"If Ukrainian people are watching me, I want to say 'you guys are so strong, you have an amazing spirit, and I tried to fight for Ukraine'.</p>

<p>"I want to say thanks to every single person for standing by Ukraine."</p>

<p>Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation".</p>

<p>There was, however, some good news for Yastremska with the organisers of the March 9-20 WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells announcing that she was handed a wildcard into the main draw.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/russian-gymnast-sports-z-symbol-on-shirt-while-sharing-podium-with-ukrainian-winner-sparks-outrage-459807">Russian gymnast sports 'Z' symbol on shirt while sharing podium with Ukrainian winner, sparks outrage</a></p>

<p>Italian Camila Giorgi's withdrawal paved the way for four-time major winner Naomi Osaka to move into the main draw at Indian Wells as a direct entry and freeing up a wildcard which was handed to Yastremska.</p>

<p>"My beloved Ukraine, I really wanted to win this one for you," Yastremska, a former world number 21 who is currently ranked 103rd, said on Twitter following her defeat in Lyon.</p>

<p>"I gave my absolute best throughout this week because that's what Ukrainians do!"</p>


Dayana Yastremska's unexpected run to the Lyon Open final ended in defeat on Sunday but the Ukrainian said she would donate her prize money towards aid efforts following Russia's invasion of her country 10 days ago.

Dayana Yastremska's unexpected run to the Lyon Open final ended in defeat on Sunday but the Ukrainian said she would donate her prize money towards aid efforts following Russia's invasion of her country 10 days ago. Yastremska, who has won three WTA titles, fled Ukraine with her younger sister with help from their parents just days after the invasion began on Feb. 24. She said she spent two nights in an underground parking lot before they fled. ALSO READ: International Judo Federation removes Vladimir Putin, Arkady Rotenberg from all positions amid Ukraine war The 21-year-old took the first set against Zhang Shuai before losing 3-6 6-3 6-4 to the eighth seed, who came back from 4-2 down in the decider to clinch the title. "The prize money I earn here I'm going to give to the Ukrainian Foundation to support Ukraine," Yastremska, who draped her country's flag around her shoulders, said at the trophy presentation. "If Ukrainian people are watching me, I want to say 'you guys are so strong, you have an amazing spirit, and I tried to fight for Ukraine'. "I want to say thanks to every single person for standing by Ukraine." Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation". There was, however, some good news for Yastremska with the organisers of the March 9-20 WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells announcing that she was handed a wildcard into the main draw. ALSO READ: Russian gymnast sports 'Z' symbol on shirt while sharing podium with Ukrainian winner, sparks outrage Italian Camila Giorgi's withdrawal paved the way for four-time major winner Naomi Osaka to move into the main draw at Indian Wells as a direct entry and freeing up a wildcard which was handed to Yastremska. "My beloved Ukraine, I really wanted to win this one for you," Yastremska, a former world number 21 who is currently ranked 103rd, said on Twitter following her defeat in Lyon. "I gave my absolute best throughout this week because that's what Ukrainians do!"

Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska to donate Lyon Open prize money to help her war-torn homeland