Yastremska becomes first qualifier to reach Australian Open semi-finals since 1978

Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska won against Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

The win sees Yastremska become the first woman to make the Australian Open semi-finals as a qualifier since 1978. With the Ukrainian playing three matches before the main draw even started in Melbourne, it’s safe to say the world No 93 is a bit weary by this stage.

“I think it’s nice to make history, because at that time I still wasn’t born,” said Yastremska after her victory.

“I’m super happy, really happy… Tired,” she continued “I arrived on 3^rd of January here. It seems like I’m here six months already.”

Yastremska’s stay in Melbourne continues

With Noskova having played the tennis of her life to defeat Iga Swiatek in the third round, the Czech teenager came into this clash as the favourite to make her first Grand Slam semi-final.

However, it was Yastremska’s turn to play a blinder, with the Ukrainian blasting winners left, right and centre in what was a one-sided match that lasted a little over an hour and a quarter. The 23-year-old struck a dominant 19 winners to Noskova’s six, with both making a similar number of unforced errors.

Yastremska, ranked No 93, will play the winner of the match between Russian Anna Kalinskaya and Chinese Qinwen Zheng, the No 12 seed, next.

Ahead of her victory, the Ukrainian defeated No 7 seed Marketa Vondrousova (6-1, 6-2), Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva (6-3, 6-2), American Emma Navarro, the No 27 seed (6-2, 2-6, 6-1) and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the No 18 seed (7-6 (6), 6-4).

Noskova, ranked No 50, won against No 31 seed Marie Bouzkova (6-1, 7-5), American wildcard Mccartney Kessler (6-3, 1-6, 6-4), Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the No 19 seed (3-0 ret.) earlier in the tournament.

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

• Anna Kalinskaya vs. Qinwen Zheng
• Aryna Sabalenka (2) beat Barbora Krejcikova (9): 6-2, 6-3
• Coco Gauff (4) beat Marta Kostyuk: 7-6 (6), 6-7 (3), 6-2