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"Today was not the way I've planned to win. I
feel sorry for Elina and I hope she feels well very soon," said
the 19-year-old Noskova, who embraced Svitolina at the net after
a lengthy medical timeout signaled the end of their fourth-round
meeting.
Noskova reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first
time in six tries.
She'll oppose Urkainian 23-year-old qualifier Dayana Yastremska
in an all-underdog quarterfinal. Yastremska beat two-time
champion Victoria Azarenka 7-6(6), 6-4 only 30 minutes after
Noskova's match went final.
"My heart is going to jump out of my body," Yastremska said
post-match, her seventh consecutive victory since qualifying
began.
Azarenka went ahead 3-0 in the second set. Yastremska admitted
she was feeling fatigued, but found another gear.
"My coaches were telling me 'play in 2 shots,' " Yastremska
said.
"I'm like ‘how can I play in two shots?' Vika's running good.
Then I just started: boom, boom, boom. I don't know how to
explain it."
Noskova entered the field ranked 50th and already eliminated No.
1 Iga Swiatek, who called the big-serving Noskova "fearless."
She's the first teenager to beat a world No. 1 at the Australian
Open since Amelie Mauresmo in 1999.
Svitolina cruised into the matchup by blowing past Viktorija
Golubic, 6-2, 6-3, in the round of 16.
Trailing 2-0 in the opening set, Svitolina unfurled a towel and
laid face-down hoping her back would respond during a medical
timeout. Her injury was evident during attempts to serve,
writhing and grimacing without the usual pop from the racket.
--Field Level Media
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