Melbourne, Australia – Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska remains undeterred despite her semifinal defeat at the Australian Open, recognizing the positive impact her impressive run will have on her rankings and future tournament entries.
Yastremska made history as the first women’s qualifier to reach the Australian Open semifinals since 1978, starting the tournament with a world ranking of 93. Despite her 6-4, 6-4 loss to China’s Zheng Qinwen on Thursday, she is projected to climb to the 28th spot when the new rankings are released on Monday.
The 23-year-old, previously ranked a career-high 21st, faced setbacks when a provisional doping ban in 2021 interrupted her trajectory. However, an independent tribunal later lifted the ban, attributing her positive test to contamination.
Reflecting on her remarkable comeback, Yastremska stated, “I think it was a nice, I will say, comeback for me to get into the top 30, because for years I couldn’t get back to top 50 or 60 even.” She emphasized the added benefit of securing direct entry into Grand Slam main draws, providing her with a priority that will contribute to a fresher competition experience.
Since her return from the provisional ban, Yastremska faced early exits in qualifying or the first round at nine successive Grand Slams. However, her improved ranking is expected to bring stability to her future schedule. “The ranking actually plays a very big role because the last four years I didn’t know my schedule, I didn’t know where I will get in, where I’m not going to get in,” she explained.
Expressing contentment with her overall performance, Yastremska gained confidence during her stay in Melbourne, notably defeating two Grand Slam winners, Marketa Vondrousova and Victoria Azarenka. “I’m happy about it. I’m not sad about the loss, but I still think it was a great tournament for me,” she said.
With a sense of pride in her accomplishments, Yastremska concluded, “Usually in Grand Slams, you get seven matches to play, and I have played nine matches, so I’m very proud of myself. I’m not going to look too much forward, but I feel like I can, one day, I can win a Grand Slam.”
