© Getty Photographs Sport – Graham Denholm
Ukrainian tennis star Dayana Yastremska very candidly informed a reporter he in all probability “wouldn’t like my solutions” if she truthfully answered how she felt about enjoying Belarusian gamers.
On Monday, Yastremska – who gained three qualifying matches to achieve the principle draw at Melbourne Park – defeated former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (6) 6-4 to achieve the Australian Open quarterfinal. By beating Azarenka, 23-year-old Yastremska reached her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal.
After sealing probably the most vital wins of her profession, Yastremska did not shake Azarenka’s hand. Nevertheless, there was not something stunning in that, contemplating that Ukrainian gamers have not been shaking palms with Russian and Belarusian gamers for fairly a while.
To nobody’s shock, Yastremska obtained some war-related questions in her post-match press convention. One of many questions was how she felt about getting into the courtroom to play a Belarusian participant.
“Taking part in in opposition to the Belarusian participant? If I will begin speaking about it, I feel you are not going to love my solutions so I am simply gonna say I wish to skip this query,” Yastremska mentioned.
“As a result of I feel, like, in the event you’re asking this query, I am positive you understand how is it for us, for Ukrainians to play in opposition to Russians and Belarusian. I am positive , so I do not assume it is a great way to ask about this query.”
Yastremska on how a lot her win means to the Ukrainians
During the last two years, Ukrainian gamers have not been hiding the truth that they’re further motivated to win each time there’s a Russian or a Belarusian participant on the opposite aspect of the online. Throughout these unlucky instances, for Yastremska and different Ukrainian gamers, beating a Russian or a Belarusian participant is greater than only a win.
After beating two-time Grand Slam champion Azarenka for her maiden Main quarterfinal, Yastremska admitted she believes her individuals shall be “proud” of her. Additionally, Yastremska underlined it makes her glad realizing that she is making a constructive story at this yr’s Australian Open.
“Nicely, I feel they are going to be actually happy with me (smiling). I am positive they’re gonna write and ask even themselves the place she’s been with this sort of recreation, like three years, the final three years,” Yastremska mentioned.
“So I feel it is as effectively fairly surprising unexpectable for them. And I do not know. I feel they are going to be happy with me (smiling). And I am completely happy to make them be proud.”
Yastremska is now enjoying with much less stress and extra relaxed
Yastremska, who shall be turning 24 in Could, revealed she was pressuring herself in numerous methods to make robust outcomes. Earlier than the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Yastremska was placing stress on her to do effectively as a result of she had excessive targets. After Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Yastremska added extra stress on her again as a result of she then additionally wished to do effectively for her nation.
Final yr, Yastremska did not have a lot success on the principle stage however she did have some success on the lower-level tournaments. Firstly of the 2024 season, Yastremska performed her first event of the yr on the Brisbane Worldwide, the place she gained two qualifying matches earlier than shedding to Daria Saville within the first spherical.
After an early Brisbane loss, Yastremska went to Melbourne, the place she gained three qualifying matches to seal a essential draw spot. After efficiently making it previous the Brisbane qualifying, Yastremska kicked off her essential draw marketing campaign by upsetting reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. Since then, Yastremska has gained three extra matches to achieve the Australian Open quarterfinal.
“I used to be placing quite a lot of stress on myself in numerous methods. In the way in which that it is the battle and I’ve to indicate higher outcomes, , for Ukraine. And I wasn’t enjoying only for myself to start with,” Yastremska defined.
“Then I used to be placing stress on myself that earlier than, like, after I was youthful, I used to be a lot better than I’m proper now. In some ways, it is too lengthy, , if I’ll say each stress that I used to be placing on myself.
“However now I made a decision that from this yr no extra stress, no extra, like, excessive expectations for myself. Simply be the way in which you might be, and we are going to see the way it’s gonna go.”
For a spot within the Australian semifinal, Yastremska shall be battling in opposition to world No. 50 Linda Noskova. When Yastremska and Noskova meet at Melbourne Park, it’ll be their first assembly.
Whereas Noskova is actually a good matchup for Yastremska, the 23-year-old Ukrainian undoubtedly will not expect to have a straightforward job in opposition to the 19-year-old Czech. Noskova has additionally been enjoying nice at this yr’s Australian Open to date, having shocked world No. 1 Iga Swiatek within the third spherical.
It stays to be seen if Yastremska can beat Noskova and make the Australian Open semifinal.
