Dajana Jastremska is in the semi-finals in Melbourne. And that as a qualifier. The last time this happened, the 23-year-old wasn’t even born yet.
Ukrainian Dajana Jastremska became the first qualifier in 46 years to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open. The 23-year-old won in Melbourne against 19-year-old Czech Linda Noskova 6:3, 6:4 and is now in 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 hit by the Russian war of aggression. “I am proud of our fighters in Ukraine,” Jastremska wrote on the television camera lens after the game. In tennis it is customary for the winners to write messages on the cameras after the game.
“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 Kostjuk and Elina Svitolina also used their successes in Melbourne to point out the still difficult situation at home. “The war is still going on. People are still dying,” Kostyuk said, for example.
Jastremska converted her first match point against Noskova in the Rod Laver Arena after 1:19 hours and thus completed the greatest success of her career to date. “It’s nice to make history. In 1978 I wasn’t even born yet,” 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 Kalinskaja 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).
Source: Stern
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