Diana Jastremska recorded her seventh win in Melbourne to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. In a fourth-round match at the tournament, the Ukrainian qualifier defeated former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 7-6(6), 6-4 in just over 2 hours at Rod Laver Arena.
Yastremska hinted at her excellent form already in the first round with the victory over Marketa Vondrushova and then eliminated Varvara Gracheva and Emma Navarro in succession. Against Azarenka, the Odessa-born tennis player showed strong nerves in the most important moments. She hit 38 winners but committed 37 double faults. The Ukrainian was almost perfect in her forays to the net and her aggressive play was rewarded.
Azarenka trailed 1-3 in the opening set, but took four consecutive games and served to win the first set 5-4. Then she cracked and conceded an equalizer. Another breakthrough followed in favor of the Belarusian, who, however, was unable to hold her serve this time as well. In the tiebreak, the champion from 2012 and 2013 reached two set points, but Jastremska saved them and then won the set 8:6.
Azarenka broke early in the second set and looked like she might be able to turn the match in her favor, but it didn't work out that way. At 3:0, she had the opportunity to break for the second time, but she wasted it. Jastremska not only leveled the games but also took the lead with 5:3. The Ukrainian showed mental resilience as she served for the match and was deservedly jubilant.
For a place in the semifinals, Yastremska will argue with another qualifier - Linda Noskova, who moved on after her match against Elina Svitolina ended early. The Ukrainian gave up because of a back injury. For Noskova, 50 in the world, this will also be her debut appearance in such an advanced phase of a Slam tournament. /BGNES
