From an anti-doping violation to grand slam bolter: How a qualifier fought her way to the semis

There are few storylines in tennis like a qualifier charging through a grand slam draw to ramp up the hype-o-meter and pique the interest of sports fans.

Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska’s unexpected charge continued on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday, and she now stands as the first women’s singles qualifier to reach the semi-finals at the Australian Open since 1978.

Dayana Yastremska savours her victory over Linda Noskova that booked her a place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.Credit: Eddie Jim

Yastremska had to survive three qualifying matches – each of them going the three-set distance – to simply earn her place in the Open starting field of 128. Less than a fortnight later, she’s two wins shy of an extraordinary grand slam triumph, assisted by the tumult that happened in the top half of the draw as seeds dropped one by one.

Yastremska, 23, is hardly an unknown but has had a dramatic career as a pro. Like all her country-folk, the ongoing conflict with Russia and Belarus is a topic dear to her heart and always front of her mind.

Furthermore, in 2020 Yastremska was a career highpoint, ranked 21 in the world. But early the next year, it was all upended when she was given a provisional ban from her sport for an anti-doping violation recorded when she returned a positive test to mesterolone. About six months later she was in the clear, however, “without any fault of negligence on her part. No period of ineligibility was imposed,” the International Tennis Federation determined.

The situation remains a touchy subject, but she admits it was a challenge to re-establish her status in the game. “I think that I have a dream since I’m a child, and that’s what was moving me forward no matter what happens,” Yastremska said.

“I had a lot of difficult situations, and I don’t want to talk about it right now. Maybe some other time I can explain it, and the story will sound completely differently.”

Ranked inside the world’s top 100 at the start of the Open, Yastremska’s surge to the final four raises the realistic prospect this Australian Open could have its own story to match Brit Emma Raducanu’s charge through qualifying to win the 2021 US Open.

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.

Yastremska serves in her quarter-final match against Noskova.Credit: Eddie Jim

“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.

“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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