Dayana Yastremska secured the most significant Grand Slam victory of her career besting former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the 2024 Australian Open’s fourth round.
This triumph marks the first time the Ukrainian has advanced to the quarterfinals of a Major tournament, where she is set to face Czech young prodigy Linda Noskova. Yastremska’s victory over a Belarusian player must feel particularly rewarding, given the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
It’s well-known that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in 2022, Ukrainian players, including Yastremska, have been outspoken about the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian players in international tournaments.
Last year, Yastremska expressed her dismay at some of the decisions made by the WTA, suggesting that the situation in Ukraine needed more recognition from the association.
“I was surprised by the decision of WTA, but on the other hand, it’s not the first time Ukrainian players showed WTA, what is happening,” she commented last year.
During her post-match press conference, Yastremska was prompted to discuss whether competing against a player from Belarus added any extra pressure. The 23-year-old chose to sidestep the issue, hinting that her forthright opinions on the matter might not be well-received.
“Playing against the Belarusian player? If I’m going to start talking about it, I think you’re not going to like my answers so I’m just gonna say I want to skip this question,” Yastremska said.
“Because I think, like, if you’re asking this question, I’m sure you know how is it for us, for Ukrainians to play against Russians and Belarusian. I’m sure you know, so I don’t think it’s a good way to ask about this question,” she added
