At the Australian Open, fearless qualifier Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine stunned two-time champion Victoria Azarenka by storming into her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal on Monday.

With the help of a powerful serve and forceful groundstrokes, the 23-year-old athlete defeated the Belarusian 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena.

Her reward is a match against the eighth-seeded Czech Linda Noskova, who advanced to the round of eight after Elina Svitolina of Ukraine resigned in the first set after falling behind 3-0 due to a weak back.

"I need to take a little bit of time to breathe because my heart I feel is going to jump out of my body," she stated.

"I always felt like I was running behind the train, but I think because I am a little bit of a fighter that's why I won this match."

Yastremska's highest Slam performance until yet was a 2019 Wimbledon fourth-round showing, although she has been playing quite well at Melbourne Park.

Currently ranked 93rd, she has defeated several players ranked in the top 50, including seventh seed and Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the opening round.

Yastremska struck first in an exciting opening set, leading 3-1, but as her error total skyrocketed, 18th seed Azarenka answered to bring it back on serve.

After breaking again to lead 4-3, her seasoned opponent stumbled miserably when serving for the set at 5-4, getting crushed by love.

Azarenka had a 6-5 lead after another break, but she lost confidence once more. Yastremska saved two set points to force a tie-break, which Yastremska won after 74 exhausting minutes.

In the second set, Azarenka shot up 3-0, but her serve was exposed once more, and Yastremska stormed back. She broke through for a second time, 4-3, on a scorching backhand down the line. Yastremska never gave up.

End//voice7news.tv