In Raducanu’s case,she was aged 18 three years ago and didn’t drop a set.
But an Australian Open victory for Yastremska,a more seasoned player at this tournament with three career titles,would still be remarkable.
On Wednesday,Yastremska was impressive in eliminating world No.50 Linda Noskova,winning 6-3,6-4 in one hour and 18 minutes. Noskova had memorably eliminated world No.1 Iga Swiatek on Saturday night,but Yastremska proved a more difficult opponent.
The last women’s qualifier to go this deep at the Australian Open was Christine Dorey in 1978,while on the men’s side it has happened much more recently;Russian Aslan Karatsev reached the semis three years ago.
“As I said on court,it’s nice to make a history,” Yastremska said.
“It’s something new for me and for my generation (smiling) because the last time it happened[in women’s tennis at the Open] it was a long time ago. I wasn’t born yet.
“Yeah,another step is done.”
Post match,Yastremska charmed the crowd and took the chance to send another anti-war message. “I’m proud of our fighting people from Ukraine,” she wrote on the camera as she left centre court.
“If you understood what I wrote,it was about the Ukrainian fighters,that I’m very proud of them,” she said later.
“They really deserve a huge respect. I always try to write something for Ukraine,about Ukraine.
“I think it’s my mission here.”
Also on court,Yastremska spoke glowingly about her mother.
“Before,my parents were travelling with me a lot,” she said.
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“When the war started,I was travelling half year just with my sister,and my parents were at home. It was pretty hard because you also are responsible for your younger sister.”
Fortunately,last year her wider family was able to travel to Paris and catch up with her at Roland Garros.
Yastremska’s Open campaign is already more than two weeks old. She did not start with specific goals in mind,but has collected some worthy scalps along the way,including Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round and Victoria Azarenka in the fourth.
“I was just focusing on playing each match,on improving,” Yastremska said.
“I was working on some things that is a little bit,like,personal[for me]
“It was more associating with my head and with the way I feel on court.”
It’s an approach that has paid off handsomely so far.
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