Australian Open semi-finalist Dayana Yastremska says she has a duty to pay respect to those currently involved in the Ukraine war after her matches.
The world No.93 beat Czech teenager Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4, to become the first qualifier to reach the last four in Melbourne Park since 1978. Yastremska broke her opponent twice in the first set and once in the second, hitting a total of 19 winners against 23 unforced errors.
Yastremska’s major breakthrough has been a long time coming. She won a trio of WTA titles before her 20th birthday before being provisionally suspended from the Tour in 2021 for a doping violation. However, she was later cleared of any wrongdoing. Since that incident, she has only reached one Tour-level final which was at the 2022 Lyon Open.
“I came here (to the Australian Open) and I was just focusing on playing each match, on improving.” Yastremska said after beating Noskova.
“I was working on some things that are a little bit personal. It was more associated with my head and with the way I feel on court. I wasn’t really putting the goal of reaching the quarters, fourth round, semis or whatever. I was just trying to enjoy playing here.”
Just moments after her latest win in Melbourne, the 23-year-old wrote on the camera lens ‘I’m proud of our fighting people from Ukraine.’ Referring to the conflict in her country and their ongoing battle with Russia. The United Nations estimates that at least 10,000 civilians have been killed and thousands more in the military.
“They deserve a huge respect. I always try to write something for Ukraine, about Ukraine.” Yastremska explained.
“I think it’s my mission here. It’s tough to express. I’m just trying to give the signal to Ukraine that I’m really proud of it.”
Earlier this year, the tennis star revealed that she found out about her grandmother’s house being struck by a rocket shortly before walking onto the court at the Brisbane International.
“When the war started, I was travelling half a year just with my sister, and my parents were at home. It was pretty hard because you also are responsible for your younger sister.” She commented.
On Thursday Yastremska will have a shot of reaching her maiden Grand Slam final. Despite the inevitable nerves and lack of experience, she is continuing to take it all in her stride.
“For me, it feels the same. I don’t know why. Feels very comfortable and like at home.” She said of Melbourne.
“I had already experience at Wimbledon when I got to the second week, but I lost in the fourth round there, so I couldn’t really feel it how is it.
“Here you’re focusing on the matches, on the process and the routines. The time goes pretty fast. You don’t have much time to analyze how is it and how it feels, but for sure when everything is done here, then I will have a lot of time to think about it, how I felt and the emotions I had.”
So far Yastremska has defeated a top 50 opponent in every main draw match she has played at this year’s Australian Open.
