Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng Preview & Prediction | 2024 Australian Open | Semi-Final
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THE FACTS
When is Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng on and what time does it start? Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng will take place on Thursday 25th January, 2024 – not before 09:45 (UK)
Where is Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng taking place? Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng being played on? Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng
What channel is Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng on in the UK? Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Dayana Yastremska vs Qinwen Zheng live on their website
THE LOWDOWN
DAYANA YASTREMSKA
23-year-old Dayana Yastremska beat Linda Noskova in straight sets on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open, becoming only the second qualifier to do so in the Open Era. The Ukrainian will move back inside the top 30 on tour for the first time since setting her career-high WTA world ranking of 21st in January 2020, off the back of three titles claimed and a run to the round of 16 at Wimbledon the year before. Yastremska can move back to that career-high of 21st if she reaches the final, completing a dream run that started with a straight-sets upset over Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
QINWEN ZHENG
21-year-old Qinwen Zheng came back from a set down to beat Anna Kalinskaya on Wednesday, setting a new Grand Slam personal best by reaching the semi-finals for the first time. The Chinese will break inside the top 10 for the first time no matter the outcome here, with her previous run to the quarter-finals at the US Open and her first two titles in Palermo and Zhengzhou coming within the last six months. Zheng also won Gold at the Asian Games last September and she ended a remarkable 2023 as runner-up to Beatriz Haddad-Maia at the WTA Elite Trophy.
THE PREDICTION
This is an incredible opportunity for both players to reach their first Grand Slam final but the majority of the Melbourne crowd will probably be behind Dayana Yastremska, who is two wins away from emulating Emma Raducanu’s dream US Open run as a qualifier. The Ukrainian’s plight is a little different as a former world number 21 with vastly more experience than Raducanu had in New York two years ago but she has certainly earned her place here, ousting seventh seed Marketa Vondrousova and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka en-route to the last four with her once promising game back within her grasp.
Qinwen Zheng proved herself Yastremska’s biggest challenger yet, though, after coming back from a set down to comfortably beat another surprise quarter-finalist in Anna Kalinskaya. The Chinese star is aiming to emulate her idol, Li Na, who won the third of her three Australian Open finals here a decade ago. That extra spot of fate, coupled with her serious surge in form over the last six months, makes the 12th seed the reasonable favourite in a first meeting between the two. Three sets seem likelier than two, though, so consider that option in lieu of picking an outright winner from this absolutely madcap side of the Melbourne draw.
TIP: TOTAL 3 SETS
