Noskova moves into maiden Grand Slam quarter-final via Svitolina injury retirement

Linda Noskova moved into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open when Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the No 19 seed, retired on Monday night at Melbourne Park due to injury.

The abbreviated victory sends Noskova into her first Grand Slam quarter-final, in just her sixth appearance in the main draw of a major.

It took Noskova 20 points to break Svitolina’s serve in the first game of the match, and by that time the 23rd-seeded Ukrainian already was struggling with an injury. She dropped the second game and immediately sought treatment from the training staff, taking a medical timeout to have her lower back worked on.

The Ukrainian would only play one more game, she pulled the plug after falling behind 3-0, at the :23 mark.

“Obviously today was not the way I have planned to win,” Noskova said. “I feel sorry for Elina, I hope she gets well soon.”

Noskova became an overnight sensation after her third-round upset of world No 1 Iga Swiatek, where she became the first WTA teenager to defeat a No 1-ranked player at Melbourne since Amelie Mauresmo in 1999.

50th-ranked Noskova will face Dayana Yastremska in the last eight. Yastremska’s win over Victoria Azarenka ensures that a first-time Grand Slam finalist will emerge from the top half of the women’s draw.

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Ahead of her victory, Noskova won against No 31 seed Marie Bouzkova (6-1, 7-5), American wildcard Mccartney Kessler (6-3, 1-6, 6-4) and Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed (3-6, 6-3, 6-4).

The Ukrainian beat Australian wildcard Taylah Preston (6-2, 6-2), Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova (6-1, 6-3) and Swiss Viktorija Golubic (6-2, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 58.910.000, most recent results first):

• Qinwen Zheng vs. Oceane Dodin
• Jasmine Paolini vs. Anna Kalinskaya
• Victoria Azarenka vs. Dayana Yastremska: monday
• Barbora Krejcikova (9) beat Mirra Andreeva: 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
• Marta Kostyuk beat Maria Timofeeva (Q): 6-2, 6-1
• Aryna Sabalenka (2) beat Amanda Anisimova: 6-3, 6-2
• Coco Gauff (4) beat Magdalena Frech: 6-1, 6-2