Dayana Yastremska Clinches Australian Open Quarterfinal Spot with Upset Win Over Azarenka

Qualifier Dayana Yastremska continued her remarkable journey in the Australian Open on Monday, securing a place in the quarterfinals with an impressive victory over two-time former champion and 18th seed Victoria Azarenka. The Ukrainian world number 93, who had already surprised everyone by defeating Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round, displayed her aggressive style of play and hammered 38 winners to advance further in a draw that lacks top-seeded players.

Following her biggest career win, Yastremska expressed her jubilation, stating, “I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my body. I was losing the tiebreak, I was losing the second set; I 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 grueling baseline battle with minimal net play, Yastremska managed to secure the first break of serve in the opening set, only for Azarenka to bounce back and win the next four games, taking a slight advantage. The two-time champion served for the set, but Yastremska maintained the pressure, forcing five deuces before finally converting her fourth break point to push for a tiebreak.

The tiebreak was equally tight, with Yastremska sealing it with her 21st winner, a powerful forehand that proved too formidable for the 34-year-old Azarenka. Both players took a long break after the first set, and when they returned, Azarenka took control, quickly racing to a 3-0 lead. However, Yastremska regrouped and launched her aggressive attacking game, finding her remarkable winners to win five consecutive games. Holding her nerve, she served for the match two games later and delivered a powerful backhand, securing her place in the quarterfinals.

Yastremska’s next opponent will be Czech world number 50 Linda Noskova, as the Ukrainian progresses to her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford