Dajana Jastremska has reached the semi-finals in Melbourne. And as a qualifier. The last time this happened, the 23-year-old wasn’t even born yet
Ukrainian Dajana Jastremska has become the first qualifier in 46 years to reach the semi-finals at the Australian Open. The 23-year-old beat 19-year-old Czech Linda Noskova 6:3, 6:4 in Melbourne to reach the semi-finals of one of the four Grand Slam tournaments for the first time.
The tennis player dedicated her surprising victory to her compatriots who had been shaken by the Russian war of aggression. “I am proud of our fighters in Ukraine,” wrote Jastremska on the lens of the television camera after the match. In tennis, it is customary for the winners to write messages on the cameras after the match.
“They really deserve our respect. I always try to write something about Ukraine,” said Jastremska. “I think that’s my mission here. I just want to send a signal to the people of Ukraine that I’m really proud of our country.”
Other Ukrainian players such as Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina had also used their successes in Melbourne to draw attention to the continuing difficult situation in their home country. “The war is still going on. People are still dying,” Kostjuk said, for example.
Jastremska converted her first match point against Noskova in the Rod Laver Arena after 1:19 hours to complete the biggest success of her career to date. “It’s nice to make history. I wasn’t even born in 1978,” said Jastremska.
Jastremska will face China’s Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals on Thursday. The world number 15 won her quarter-final against the Russian Anna Kalinskaya 6:7 (4:7), 6:3, 6:1 and is in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time. The other semi-final will be contested by defending champion Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus and US Open champion Coco Gauff from the USA (9.30 a.m. CET/Eurosport).
