Dayana Yastremska wins in straight sets over Linda Noskova to make semifinal

Dayana Yastremska celebrates her quarterfinal victory at the Australian Open

Dayana Yastremska achieved a milestone at the Australian Open on Thursday. The Ukrainian qualifier took out Linda Noskova in the quarterfinal, winning 6-3, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park. She became the first qualifier since 1978 to make the last four in the grand slam.

The two players entered uncharted territory in their tennis careers by making a grand slam quarterfinal. The Ukrainian played a physical match to defeat Victoria Azarenka on Monday, gripping the second set to clinch her spot. Noskova was given a sudden pass as Elina Svitolina suffered a muscle pull in her back to exit the slam in heartbreak. The Czech’s win against the world number one gave her an edge coming in to the last eight and gave Yastremska a fight to the end.

Yastremska opened service blanking Noskova, scoring two winners from her end of the court. The 19-year-old showed great rhythm on her serve, but the Ukrainian dug in to respond and forced deuce. Noskova forced an error from Yastremska and laid down an ace to even the score. The Czech launched an attack, scoring the break in the third game on a string of errors from the 23-year-old.

Yastremska turned things around with backhanded winners to break back at Noskova, but her offense struggled in the fifth. A double fault opened a pathway for the Czech, but the Ukrainian battled to hold serve while regaining the lead. By the sixth game, the players returned to service holds, including a tough one from the Ukrainian, who committed a second double fault. Noskova added one to her service game in the eighth, opening the door for Yastremska to launch winners and take a 5-3 lead.

Serving for the set, the 23-year-old recovered from a deficit on serve, forcing deuce and bringing up set point. It was a five-shot rally, that ended, with a winner ending 36 minutes of play. Yastremska had 11 winners to Noskova’s four and won more points from the first serve despite two double faults.

The Czech teen began the second, drawing errors from Yastremska on both sides of her racket. Despite committing a double fault, Noskova got out of trouble to hold serve. Yastremska followed suit in the second, followed by Noskova, remaining on serve through three service games. They added another pair, with the 19-year-old maintaining her lead in the set. The Ukrainian leveled the score and broke the Czech in the seventh, inching herself closer to the semifinal.

On serve in the eighth, Yastremska drew errors from Noskova, while staying solid near the baseline and driving the shots to make it 5-3. The teen kept herself in the competition, holding an important ninth game and being in touch with the Ukrainian. Yastremska suffered key errors including a 20-shot rally that landed long. She managed to fight back and get to 30-all and forced an error from Noskova to bring up match point. She got it done on a long ball from the Czech to clinch the win in 1 hour and 19 minutes.

“I think it’s nice to make history because I still wasn’t born when it last happened,” she said. “As the next generation, it’s nice to make history and super happy…and tired.” The 23-year-old will get a day off while awaiting the winner between Anna Kalinskaya and 12th-seeded Qinwen Zheng of China.

Dayana Yastremska punches Australian Open quarterfinal ticket in straight sets win over Victoria Azarenka

Dayana Yastremska clenches her fist during the fourth round of the Australian Open. 

Dayana Yastremska got the best of her game and her opponent to go into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Monday. Victoria Azarenka met her match against the 23-year-old, who hit big and moved well to upset the 19th seed 7-6(6), 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.

The two met twice two years ago in matches that the 34-year-old won. The 2018 champ remains the only finalist left in the top half after defeating Jelena Ostapenko for the second time this month. She rallied against the Latvian from 2-5 down in the second to make the second week.

It was the third match that she avoided going three against her opponents. The Ukrainian made the second week of a slam for the second time in her career defeating Emma Navarro. Since fighting through qualifications, Yastremska went the distance in four of six matches. Gaining a top-10 win was a huge feat, but getting another victory against Azarenka would even the series and put her into the last eight.

The first game took five minutes for Yastremska to hold serve, preventing the 18th seed from clinching a break chance. The time came for Azarenka to serve and rushed through her service game, allowing Yastremska a point from it. The Ukrainian put together a string of tough balls for Azarenka to return, getting the win on an error into the net. Yastremska scored breakpoints in the fourth to move two games ahead of the 18th seed.

The 18th seed broke back in the fifth and went on a three-game winning streak, scoring the double break to regain the lead. The eighth was heavily competitive, trading off points and late mistakes from Yastremska made it 5-3 for the 34-year-old. The Ukrainian refused to go down on serve, putting together a convincing game.

A break to love incensed Azarenka, who struggled on serve and gave Yastremska a short run of points. The Ukrainian had seven before it was broken in the 11th, which went to deuce. Azarenka countered for the AD point and broke the qualifier for the third time. The 18th seed served for the set but her opponent responded well to the first serve, trading points along the way. They went to deuce six times until the 23-year-old forced the set to a tiebreak.

The two stayed tight after six points and remained so after ten. After 12 points, Yastremska gained a second set point on her 20th winner, scoring her 21st on a swing and a miss by Azarenka ending a 74-minute battle. Yastremska had three aces and dominated on the returns, winning 71 percent to Azarenka’s 42. Both combined for 41 unforced errors, with Yastremska recording 25.

In the second, Azarenka caught her opponent moving slower and coasted through her service. The 34-year-old battled off a game-point chance for Yastremska, forced deuce, and took the break on the second deuce. She consolidated a 3-0 run in the shape of a shutout, only to see her winning streak snap. Yastremska battled to hold serve, stopping Azarenka from a breakpoint, and took it on the first deuce.

She converted a break in the fifth, playing extra balls with Azarenka and extending the game deep. Yastremska tied a hold of serve in the sixth and captured a big double break to lead 4-3. The momentum remained with the 23-year-old, who consolidated on serve to sit up 5-3, playing for an upset. Azarenka didn’t give her a shot on serve, inching closer to tie up the set and produce a chance. Yastremska got into place, with two match points and fired one into the corner, which Azarenka missed to close out a thrilling victory that took two hours and seven minutes.

Victoria Azarenka survives a three setter against Camila Giorgi at Australian Open.

Victoria Azarenka worked hard during her first round match at the Australian Open. 

Camila Giorgi pushed round one to three sets but went down at the hands of Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open. The 18th seed breathed a sigh of relief in an up-and-down battle at Margaret Court Arena winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. The loss for the Italian snapped her streak of five first-round wins at Melbourne Park.  

The two met for the fifth time and the first since Miami where the former world number one handled the match swiftly. The Italian last defeated someone highly ranked as Azarenka in the 2015 edition and hoped to not drop a first-rounder in Melbourne since 2017. The 34-year-old did well in Brisbane, making it to the semifinal which set her up for another comfortable run at the slam. With the series tied, and the 18th seed holding a streak against Giorgi, she had a chance to jump off the blocks right.

The Italian was first to act and served well to open the scoring, but Azarenka drew easy errors and aced it to serve to love. In the third, the 18th seed anted up with a break to love of Giorgi making a statement and the lead. Azarenka blew a third shutout of Giorgi in the fourth game but landed an ace to end it. The 34-year-old ran off to a 4-1 score, drawing further errors from the Italian, who struggled to dig in.

Giorgi threatened Azarenka’s service in the sixth game, but a force of deuce from the 18th seed helped her reel the momentum in and make it 5-1 to her end. Giorgi’s first serve continued to have issues, gifting set point to Azarenka, who got it on a double fault from the Italian. It was a 31-minute rush for the 34-year-old, who scored 90 percent of first-serve points, while her opponent had 16 unforced errors.

Giorgi got another good start to open the second set, breaking her opponent. The 18th seed answered with a break back and consolidated in the third, putting a halt on the break opportunity for the 32-year-old in the third. The Italian fought hard to secure service in the fourth, leveling the score but also giving her offense life to challenge the former world number one.

Azarenka changed things up by notching her third shutout of the match on Giorgi. The Italian had enough of being blanked and built together another service hold to keep Azarenka in reach. She went after the 18th seed in the seventh, hunting down chances for the AD point on deuce. Two breaks went the way of Azarenka, who drew an error to take the lead back. Giorgi added another big hold of serve to remain even with the 34-year-old as they reached the business end of the second.

Giorgi put herself in a good position, running well with the momentum while rushing Azarenka to falter on serve. A double fault handed the Italian a 5-4 lead to serve for the set and bring in a third. She had Azarenka on the ropes in the tenth game, but a long return brought up deuce which went Giorgi’s way to send them to a decider and a break from the heat. It was a 53-minute success for the Italian, who improved on points from the first serve while forcing errors from Azarenka. With the pace of play to Giorgi’s advantage, she had every chance to pull off an upset of the two-time champ.

Azarenka refused to allow her opponent to take another opening game and hold serve to start the deciding set. She forced deuce on Giorgi’s service and played five deuces before the Italian held on.  It was the only win she saw for the next three games as the 18th seed held strong and battled for the break. The 34-year-old swept through the fifth and watched Giorgi tie a service game to her name.

Azarenka scored a great hold to deny any surge from the Italian and pressure her to stagger while facing defeat. The 18th seed played the returns smartly, drawing errors from Giorgi, who faced two match points. Two crosscourt winner returns forced deuce, followed by drawn errors from Azarenka to extend play. New balls were in hand for the 34-year-old, who double-faulted on serve for the match.

The 18th seed got aggressive, smashing the open court and double-faulting again. The score went to deuce while Azarenka went to the towel to slow things down and gain match point. A seventh double fault and third of the game went to Azarenka, who soon gained a fourth match point attempt. She got the serve in and forced Giorgi to err the ball wide, getting out of trouble in a 2-hour and 28-minute fight.

Elina Svitolina takes out Taylah Preston in straight sets

Elina Svitolina waves to the crowd after completing her first-round match at the Australian Open. 

Elina Svitolina turned up the heat to advance to the second round of the Australian Open on Monday. The 19th-seeded Ukrainian fixed the issues during the straight-sets match against Taylah Preston to win 6-2, 6-2 on 1573 Arena at Melbourne Park.

The Australian made her debut at Melbourne Park after earning a wild card to get in. The 18-year-old wasn’t fortunate to draw against the Ukrainian, who put in a lot of time in Auckland, making the final there against Coco Gauff. Despite going down against the American, she was warmed up to accept the challenge against the hometown girl and face any tests that Preston brought to the court. The Australian teen invested time in the ITF to prepare for her first main draw appearance, winning seven of the last ten.

The 19th seed faced a break of serve from Preston but handed one right back to level the score. Svitolina tried to get a service game secured, but the teen fought back to force deuce and scored the double break. The Ukrainian got a jump on the 18-year-old in the fourth game, allowing her a point from her end. Svitolina smartened up on serve in the fifth, executing the winners, and watched Preston err into the net to notch the match’s first service hold.

Svitolina backed up the hold and dominated the teen, shutting her out on service. The 29-year-old made it 5-2 on the serve, maximizing pressure on Preston to get the set closed. The Ukrainian reached set point at 40-30 but erred a return into the net. After three breaks, it was Preston who cracked under the stress, double-faulting the set to Svitolina after 30 minutes. Neither player did well on the first serve, but 18 unforced errors from Preston weighed down her problems.

The Ukrainian got the serve locked down in the second set, holding the Aussie to a point. She got into the groove of holding serve, but Svitolina dug in to hold and catch the break of serve in the fourth. The 19th seed continued to build a positive outlook for her side of the court, backing up the break for a 4-1 commanding lead. Preston built up a great set of shots that silenced the 29-year-old in the sixth to sit two games down.

Svitolina faced a tough service, with the two trading points until a late error from Preston behind the baseline gave the 19th seed a 5-2 stand. Preston was in the hot seat to stay in the match, but despite her early performance, she opened the door for Svitolina to force a deuce. After three breaks, the Ukrainian achieved a match point to get the job done in under an hour.  

Caroline Wozniacki gets early win on Linette retirement at Australian Open

Caroline Wozniacki in action at the 2024 Australian Open 

Magda Linette came into the opening round and lost the battle with a tough injury at the Australian Open on Sunday. The Pole gave it her best against Caroline Wozniacki, who took the opening set and was given the pass to the second round. Her 6-2, 2-0 result on Margaret Court Arena left many disappointed but happy that the 33-year-old was advancing.

The 2018 champ returned to Melbourne Park feeling capable after a three-year absence to go for another slam to begin 2024. She had a tough matchup against Elina Svitolina in Auckland, being knocked out in the opening round. Having two matches against Linette dating to 2017 and on hard courts, allowed her to recall her success against the Pole and try to upset the 20th seed. The 31-year-old tallied three matches in Brisbane and Adelaide, but facing the former world number one proved challenging for an opening match.

Linette had a tough opening service, playing at the baseline with long rallies but suffered the break to love. Wozniacki had to shake off the rust, falling behind on the score, but managed to force deuce with the 20th seed. She got out of trouble after two breaks, forcing the Pole to err and fall two games back. She delivered better in the third game, moving into the court and finding an ace in her bag to secure the serve.

She fought hard to break back and level the score against Wozniacki, who dug in for a lengthy fourth game. Wozniacki scored the breakback in the fifth as Linette suffered a double fault, followed by numerous errors. Wozniacki had a quick finish to her serve due to a lack of effort from Linette, who called the trainer mid-game and missed on points. The 31-year-old handed the break to Wozniacki, taking a conference with the trainer due to an upper left leg issue.

She left the court for a medical timeout and returned three minutes later with much more tape on her left leg. Facing the Dane on serve to stay in the set, the 20th seed grinded through the points but ultimately fell out of the first set after 47 minutes. She tallied 16 errors and struggled with the serve as her injury caused her discomfort where it mattered most.

Wozniacki got the break coming out the gate in the second set, throwing the heat at Linette, who showed further struggle. The Dane earned her first and last shutout as the 31-year-old bowed out after two games in the set.

Victoria Azarenka wins tight three setter against Jelena Ostapenko

Victoria Azarenka gives a smile after her three set win against Jelena Ostapenko at the Brisbane International

Victoria Azarenka went the distance for the first time and was victorious at the Brisbane International on Friday. The former world number one used her experience with depth to take down Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 at Pat Rafter Arena at the Queensland Tennis Center. It was full effort battle between the two stars, with the 34-year-old entering her 64th career semifinal.

The two clashed for the third time and were the first to come on hard courts. Both came out hot in Brisbane, with one finding her comfort, and returning to the tournament. The other made her debut strong, defeating Camila Giorgi and Karolina Pliskova. Though her round three match took much more effort, the Latvian was in to change tactics against the former world number one. The 34-year-old took down Clara Burel in straight sets, reeling the competition in late against the French star. Having two wins against Ostapenko, the charm of getting a third would put her into the semifinal.

Azarenka allowed a point on serve and went for the break in the second due to Ostapenko’s frustrations on the first serve. The eighth seed backed it up for a comfortable 3-0 run, hoping that she could keep the heat on her opponent. The third seed succeeded in holding serve in the fourth. Due to a second double fault in the match from Azarenka, the Latvian took control during deuce, scoring the break.

Azarenka reestablished her gap in a break back to love, playing in the middle of the court and firing the ball deep. The tactics gave her a 5-2 control of the set, anticipating a potential double break to end it. Ostapenko remained firm on serve delivering the winners to get a third win. Azarenka put things into high gear and built three set points to force Ostapenko to err and end the set in 36 minutes. Errors were the difference maker for the eighth seed, who only had three while the Latvian reached double digits.

On serve in the second set, Ostapenko rallied to lead the way on serve and try to turn the tables. They went through five holds of serve until the sixth where Ostapenko dug in deep with her skills and emotions to gain a break. Azarenka fought through three deuces, but the winners that the Latvian fired were too much to manage. Seeing a two-game gap, the third seed backed up the break and sat a game from forcing a decider.

The 34-year-old handled the pressure on serve in the eighth, smashing big shots deep to extend the set forward. Ostapenko got the job done, forcing a last error from Azarenka in the ninth to take the second in 44 minutes. Both launched 25 winners in total in the set and committed very few errors, but despite nine aces from Azarenka, Ostapenko outscored her on points.

Azarenka was first to strike in the third set, with Ostapenko following along despite challenges. They held serve through four games before the fifth became highly contested. It was the eighth seed, who suffered a break, but scored the break back to remain even at three-all. The seventh game stood out as the biggest tug of war for the lead, with both players playing nine deuces. Azarenka managed to find the winner on the court to take the lead.

Ostapenko refused to let anything slip away on serve and made it four-all with the break in hand. The eighth seed got the upper hand and on the last point, got the ball over the net. Ostapenko refused to believe that the ball bounced only once on her opponent’s side and got into it with the umpire. Despite her anger to never have her officiating her matches, she steadied her service to make it five-all. The 34-year-old notched her third shutout on serve, winning the 11th and a shot to play for a place in the semifinal.

Azarenka took advantage of a double fault from Ostapenko, gaining two match points to see the return go into the net ending a dramatic 2-hour and 30-minute fight. “With Jelena, sometimes you have to put on helmet and try to stay in there,” said Azarenka joking. “She’s an incredible player, we have seen it many times and she’s a grand slam player, and proved many times that she can beat anybody on any given day and is always very dangerous.”

With a major obstacle out of her way for the third time, she’ll go into Saturday’s semifinal awaiting Aryna Sabalenka or Daria Kasatkina.

Jelena Ostapenko ousts Pliskova in three sets

Jelena Ostapenko performed well enough to defeat Karolina Pliskova at the Brisbane International Thursday. 

Jelena Ostapenko felt the pressure and managed it at the Brisbane International Thursday. The Latvian struggled at times against Karolina Pliskova but edged the Czech in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 at Pat Rafter Arena at the Queensland Tennis Center. The 26-year-old remained hot at the start of 2024, getting the wins tied together.

The two superstars met for an 11th chapter to their long history. Last year they met twice, with Ostapenko taking wins in Adelaide and Cincinnati against the Czech. In her first appearance of the tournament, the Latvian manhandled Camila Giorgi in straight sets. She notched 23 winners and only had 14 unforced errors throughout the 17 games played.

Being reminded of her run at the Australian Open last year put her in a place to potentially repeat against Pliskova. The six-foot-one star put her best against returning former world number one Naomi Osaka, scoring 16 aces. Despite having 11 double faults in her victory, Pliskova has a good history in Brisbane and is eager to take on another big name in the sport.

Ostapenko opened scoring to lead 40-15 until the Czech fought to force a deuce. The two traded AD points through four breaks until the Latvian held up. She captured the break in the second and went three straight before Pliskova got on the board. The Czech faced a steep climb as Ostapenko left nothing back in her offensive strengths. By the sixth, the third seed was a double break and up 5-1.

Pliskova denied her to serve out the set, breaking back in the seventh. The 16th seed wanted to hang around in the set, serving up an ace in the eighth, until an error forced deuce. Ostapenko was gifted set point twice, failing to lock it down and put Pliskova a set down. After six breaks, the Czech handed Ostapenko a third shot that was good to close the first in 46 minutes. It was a rough conclusion for the Latvian, who had three double faults and ten unforced errors.

Managing to keep the numbers low, the third seed got into position but the second set didn’t start the way she wanted. The 16th seed came to life, allowing a point from her opponent before getting the break. Pliskova backed up a two-game margin on serve getting in place for what the third seed responded. Ostapenko smashed out a quick third game, blanking the Czech, and ending the short streak.

She turned it around in the fourth to hold serve for the lead, but Ostapenko followed suit to keep the margin small. She broke Pliskova in the sixth to level the score and go for the lead change on serve. Pliskova broke back to retain control of the scoreboard, with Ostapenko close behind. The 16th seed widened the gap to make it 5-3 to consolidate her hard work and force a third set.

Ostapenko refused to go down on serve, smashing big with the forehand to bring it back within a game. Pliskova served for the set but two chances went down on winning returns by the Latvian to force deuce. The 16th seed rushed to gain a third set point that was the charm to force the match to a decider after 40 minutes.

It was a race to the finish as both players battled it out in the opening game that went four breaks. Ostapenko struggled with errors sprinkled in the game but came through with the hold. Pliskova made it look easy in the second, switching up fast to challenge the third seed serving the third. They played 11 points and three breaks before Ostapenko sealed the win. The pace settled down with a pair of quick games and the Latvian leading by a small margin.

She jumped out to 5-2 after putting in work in the sixth to break Pliskova and get in place for the match. The 16th seed shut her down in the eighth, giving up a point on serve, with the aces in tow. Ostapenko had the time to get it done on serve, overcoming a loss of points and surging to the AD point where she capped it on the second attempt to finish in 2 hours and 17 minutes.  

The competition wouldn’t drop for the third seed as she faced Victoria Azarenka in Friday’s quarterfinal.

Azarenka pushes late to enter Brisbane International quarterfinal

Victoria Azarenka celebates a third round victory against Clara Burel at the Brisbane International. 

Victoria Azarenka finishes strong to snap her opponent out of the Brisbane International on Thursday. Moving into the court late against Clara Burel, allowed her to dominate to victory in straight sets 7-5, 6-2 at Pat Rafter Arena at the Queensland Tennis Center. It marked Azarenka’s 98th career quarterfinal in a tournament she loves.

The 34-year-old opened the 2024 season with a strong victory over Anna Kalinskaya, winning 6-1, 7-6 back in Brisbane. Finding the comfort early, the former world number one readied herself for a new challenge in Burel. The Frenchwoman extended her match streak to eight after her defeat of Anhelina Kalinina in straight sets, losing just five games in round one. Since July, she has carried a 27-8 record on hard-court matches. With a spot in the quarterfinal looming, both players would stir up challenges for the other to gain the top-eight spot.

Azarenka served up the first win to her name, giving Burel a point. She notched a break of the 22-year-old and backed things up with a hard-fought third game. Burel pushed her to deuce, but after a couple of breaks, the former world number took a 3-0 lead. Burel managed to get a service hold in the fourth, but once her opponent had the ball back, it was 4-1 for Azarenka.

Burel secured a second consecutive service hold in the sixth, cutting into the margin on the eighth seed. She went on to come up, with a break to love opportunity, but two lost breaks went by before Burel held Azarenka back. She backed it up to level the score at four-all, handing the eighth seed a wakeup call to change tactics. The 34-year-old made good on her service in the ninth, denying the Frenchwoman any further steps forward to regain control.

Burel achieved the serve to love in the tenth as a statement to Azarenka that the set would go the distance. The eighth seed responded with a hold and focused on the break in the 12th. Azarenka built together two set-point chances and waited patiently for her opponent to err, bringing the first to a close after 56 minutes. Burel had more winners than Azarenka, but the 34-year-old dominated with the first serve at 78 percent, rolling her success into the second set.

She constructed another lead for herself, hoping that she could keep the French star far back. With the break in hand, Azarenka fought back Burel to contain service and lead 3-0. Burel finally found a way to dig into the fourth with balls in hand and use her skills to play deep and finish it on an ace. By the end of the fifth, the set mirrored much like the first, with Azarenka back to a three-game margin.

Burel was on point with her service game, but her opponent made other arrangements to try and close out the match. Errors from the 22-year-old handed Azarenka easy match points to attain and get into place with three straight match points. The eighth seed watched her opponent hit one into the net that ended her lengthy winning streak and put Azarenka into her fifth quarterfinal of the tournament after 1 hour and 33 minutes. 

"She was changing up the game," Azarenka said about her opponent after the match. "I was trying to be aggressive and come to the net, but I felt like she was on top of me and made some amazing passing shots." 

"It was a very competitive match, very good, and thought that when I needed to I could step up my game."

She’ll take another good performance in stride to prepare for her quarterfinal against the winner of Jelena Ostapenko and Karolina Pliskova on Friday.