SUMMARY
- Victoria Azarenka's run at the 2024 Australian Open was cut short by Dayana Yastremska.
- Victoria Azarenka did not bother to answer a reporter's question during the post-match press conference in Melbourne.
The 2024 Australian Open has now completed 10 days of exciting clashes. Three quarterfinal fixtures remain in the women’s draw. The fourth-round matches saw four grand slam champions contesting for a place in the last eight. Three of them got through as Victoria Azarenka lost her match against Dayana Yastremska. The post-match press conference did not go well for her.
Azarenka was asked about her performance in the match, which she answered without hesitation. But a reporter then put forth a question about added pressure and the atmosphere due to Yastremska being an “Ukranian.” Azarenka only spoke about the atmosphere at the Australian Open and when asked the question again, she said, “I don’t care, next question,” as they moved on to other questions.
The Belarusian player had earlier been asked questions about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. At present, Russian and Belarusian players are allowed entry into the grand slams under the neutral flag. The no handshake policy was followed between Azarenka and Yastremska, as it has been seen on the WTA tour. The Ukrainian is the only qualifier left at the Australian Open.
Dayana Yastremska assured of a record finish at Melbourne
Yastremska had lost a set each in her qualifying matches at the Australian Open. In the main draw, the 23-year-old beat two grand slam champions in straight sets. Yastremska has only dropped a single set on her way to the quarterfinals. With the victory over Azarenka, she will be playing in her first grand slam quarterfinals. Yastremska will be facing Linda Noskova in her next match.
The World no.93 is the lowest-ranked player left in the main draw. Yastremska has been covering the court well, resulting in winners from her opponents so far. In her first three matches, she hit a total of 84 winners, while her opponent’s combined tally was 16. In the match against Azarenka, Yastremska hit 38 winners while the former world No.1 hit 16.
From qualifying to QUARTERFINALS 🙌@D_Yastremska delivers her best-ever Grand Slam result!#AusOpen • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/wCR1plg9Ea
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2024
It will be the first meeting between Noskova and Yastremska on the tour. Both players have so far 100 plus winners in their first four matches. The 19-year-old has won 70 percent of her first-serve points in all her matches this time. Yastremska will need to move around the court during Noskova’s volleys. The game will see hard-hitting rallies from the baseline.