Yastremska aims high after reaching semis

Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska cruised past unseeded Czech Linda Noskova on Wednesday to become just the second women’s qualifier in the Open era to reach the semifinals in Australia.

In searing conditions on Rod Laver Arena, the world No.93 broke three times to win 6-3 6-4 in 78 minutes and set up a last-four clash with unseeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya or Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen.

Yastremska is the first women’s qualifier to reach the last four at the season opening grand slam since

Australia’s Christine Matison in 1978.

“It’s nice to make history, because at that time I wasn’t even born,” she said. “Next generation and nice to make history. I’m super happy.

“I played good, but I didn’t really feel like I’m playing really good. I just play like I can. I’m really a little bit tired and everything that was left was just fighting.” Yastremska faced a tough battle to reach the main draw at Melbourne Park, being taken the distance in all three qualifying matches.

But she moved up a gear in Melbourne, hammering

Wimbledon champion and seventh seed Marketa Vondrousova in the first round and eliminating twotime champion Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.

Czech world No.50 Noskova had significant scalps of her own, including world No.1 Iga Swiatek, whom she ousted in the third round.

The 23-year-old Yastremska, who has won three WTA singles titles and boasts a career-high ranking of 21, was cleared of doping in June 2021 following an appeal after a failed test that resulted in an initial ban.