Dayana Yastremska beats Linda Noskova in fairytale run, first qualifier to make Australian Open semi-finals since 1978

ByEurosport

Updated 24/01/2024 at 07:54 GMT

Dayana Yastremska beat Linda Noskova 6-3 6-4 to progress to the semi-finals of the Australian Open. In doing so, she becomes the first qualifier to make the semi-final stage at Melbourne Park since 1978. She will face Anna Kalinskaya or Zheng Qinwen for a spot in the final. Yastremska’s prior best showing at a Grand Slam was a fourth-round appearance at the French Open in 2019.

Dayana Yastremska will contest a first Grand Slam semi-final after she beat Linda Noskova 6-3 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.

The qualifier will face Anna Kalinskaya or Zheng Qinwen next after becoming the first qualifier to make the last four at Melbourne Park since 1974.

Yastremska produced a dominant showing against Noskova – who had beaten Iga Siwatek in the previous round – and hit 19 winners to her opponent’s six.

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“It's nice to make a history,” said Yastremska after her win.

“It's something new for me and for my generation (smiling) because the last time it happened it was a long time ago. I wasn't born yet. It's nice. I'm really happy to be in my first semi-finals. I was a little bit nervous, but at the same time tired.

“I think I was a little bit too emotional. Today before my match I got angry at the practice of my coach (smiling). But that's fine, because I could put my emotions away.

“Yeah, another step is done.”

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Yastremska became the fifth player in the Open era to make the semi-finals as a qualifier – the last was Emma Raducanu at the US Open in 2021.

“I arrived on 3rd January," Yastremska said about her run.

"On days when I have a match the days go very fast but on my days off, it feels like I’ve been here six months.

“I prefer to play matches rather than practising. I like Melbourne, I have good memories from juniors, where I made the finals.”

Disbelieving Yastremska beats Noskova in straight sets to reach semi-finals

Both players roared into action at a sunny Rod Laver Arena and traded early breaks.

Noskova was the first player to break serve and capitalised when Yastremska struck three unforced errors at 1-1.

The 23-year-old immediately hit back with a break for 2-2 to keep level with the teenager.

A flurry of holds followed as the match steadied itself following the fast start, until Yastremska broke again at 5-3 to command the remaining three games of the set.

The Ukrainian wrapped up the first set after 36 minutes to take advantage in the all-unseeded affair.

The pair exchanged equally as powerful shots throughout the contest as Yastremska edged the best of the action going into the second set.

Yastremska made the crucial break at 3-3 in the second set and from there, couldn’t be caught as she won four of the last four games to seal her spot in the semi-finals.

It is the first time Yastremska has reached a Grand Slam semi-final, with her previous best effort at a major coming at Wimbledon in 2019 when she reached the fourth round.

She becomes only the second Ukrainian woman to reach the last four of a Grand Slam, after fellow Odesa native Elina Svitolina.

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