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Czech qualifier Linda Nosková has continued her giant-killing run to advance to the Adelaide International semifinals with an upset win over two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.
- Nosková beat Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (8/6)
- Ons Jabeur defeated Marta Kostyuk 7-6 (7/5), 7-5
- Aryna Sabalenka will play Irina-Camelia Begu in the semifinals
The 18-year-old overcame severe fatigue to defeat former world number one Azarenka 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (8/6) in a seesawing quarterfinal that went almost three hours.
A first-round winner over third seed Daria Kasatkina, Nosková has now won five consecutive matches in only her sixth appearance in the main draw of a WTA Tour event.
Her reward is a semifinal shot against Tunisia's world number two Ons Jabeur, who defeated exciting young Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.
Win or lose, Nosková is already guaranteed a massive rankings boost from number 102 to the world's top 70 following her breakout run in Adelaide.
Belarusian world number five Aryna Sabalenka was the first woman through to the semifinals following a straight-sets win over Czech Markéta Vondroušová.
Sabalenka overcame serving troubles to defeat the 2019 French Open runner-up 6-3, 7-5.
"It was a tough match. She fought until the end. I am really happy I was able to win this match," second-seeded Sabalenka said.
"I am staying really calm and I feel at home here. That is why I am playing really well. I haven't dropped a set yet and hopefully I will keep going like that."
Sabalenka will play Irina-Camelia Begu for a spot in the final after the Romanian defeated fourth-seeded Russian Verinoka Kudermetova 7-5, 6-4 in the second quarterfinal.
AAP