Dayana Yastremska shocks Victoria Azarenka, advances to maiden Grand Slam quarter-finals

NEW DELHI: Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska created waves at the Australian Open on Monday as she secured her first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final berth by stunning two-time champion Victoria Azarenka.

Yastremska exhibited a fearless performance, prevailing over the Belarusian 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.

Driven by a powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes, the 23-year-old athlete outplayed her veteran opponent, who is ranked 93rd.

Yastremska expressed her emotions after the match, saying, "I need to take a little bit of time to breathe because my heart, I feel, is going to jump out of my body. 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."



Yastremska's journey to the quarterfinals includes victories over top 50 players, including Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round.

In a roller coaster opening set against Azarenka, she took an early lead but faced a resilient response from the 18th-seeded Belarusian. The set featured multiple breaks, but Yastremska eventually clinched it in a tie-break after 74 intense minutes.

In the second set, Azarenka took an initial 3-0 lead, but Yastremska fought back, showcasing her determination and securing a second break for a 4-3 advantage. She maintained her momentum and closed out the match with a 6-4 victory in the second set.

Yastremska's next challenge in the quarterfinals will be against unseeded Czech player Linda Noskova, who progressed to the last eight after Ukraine's Elina Svitolina retired with a back injury while trailing 3-0 in the first set. The Ukrainian qualifier, ranked 93, has now set her sights on further progress in the tournament, building on her impressive run at Melbourne Park.

(With inputs from AFP)