Who are the four lesser-known players hoping for an unexpected place in the Women’s Singles Final at the Australian Open 2024?

The women’s singles final at the Australian Open is scheduled for Saturday, and contenders such as US Open champion Coco Gauff and second seed Aryna Sabalenka are considered strong candidates for the title. As they compete against Marta Kostyuk and ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova for a place in the semi-finals, the opposite side of the draw features four players experiencing remarkable success in Melbourne.

Dayana Yastremska, Anna Kalinskaya, Linda Noskova, and Qinwen Zheng have all advanced to the quarter-finals after winning their respective fourth-round matches on Monday. In the top half of the draw, No. 12 seed Zheng holds the highest ranking and is favored to reach the Saturday showdown. She is the sole seeded player remaining in her half, securing a straightforward 6-0, 6-3 victory over Oceane Dodin.

Kalinskaya and 19-year-old Noskova have never progressed beyond the second round in a Grand Slam, while Yastremska’s best performance occurred at Wimbledon in 2019 when she reached the fourth round. Yastremska, ranked No. 93, emerged from the qualification rounds and is still the lowest-ranked player in the tournament. She is set to face the 50th-ranked Noskova in the upcoming match.

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This sets up a match between Zheng and the 75th-ranked Kalinskaya, and the victors of these respective clashes will compete for a place in the final.

Downplaying any perceived advantage, 21-year-old Zheng, the sole player in the quartet with prior experience at this stage in a Grand Slam, having reached the US Open quarter-finals in September, addressed the press on Monday. She expressed that being in this position was unexpected, emphasizing that her quarter-final experience might not necessarily be an edge. Zheng remarked, “In tennis, you never know what’s going to happen. You focus on the opponent in front of you, regardless of how others are doing, as you need to play seven matches to reach the final, and that’s how it is.” When asked about the potential benefits of her previous run to the last eight in New York, she replied, “It’s tough to say because I think everyone in the quarter-finals is feeling really good in this tournament. They’ll all give their best. I can just play my tennis, and let’s see what will happen. It’s not a significant advantage; it’s one player against another, and we will compete.”

Approaching what could be the most challenging hurdle on her journey to the final, Kalinskaya is set to face Zheng in the quarter-finals. Despite the formidable opponent on paper, the Russian player maintains a grounded perspective as she prepares for the significant match.

“It’s undoubtedly exciting to reach the quarter-finals, but I’m focusing on enjoying every match and taking it point by point,” Kalinskaya expressed. Reflecting on whether her current success marks a milestone in her career, the 25-year-old remarked, “I don’t think I’ve fully grasped it yet. I’m staying composed and positive, not dwelling on the situation, just playing and enjoying the game. Nevertheless, it’s certainly a confidence boost for the future.”

‘A CHALLENGING YET FASCINATING CONTEST’

Yastremska and Noskova had divergent experiences in their respective fourth-round matches. Yastremska, the Ukrainian, fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the first set, ultimately winning through a tie-break and securing a straight-sets victory over 18th seed Victoria Azarenka.

On the other side, 19-year-old Noskova received a walkover when Elina Svitolina retired due to a back issue while trailing 3-0 in the opening set. Looking ahead to their upcoming match, Yastremska anticipates a challenging battle against the teenage player.

“She’s a good player,” Yastremska commented. “I’ve seen a couple of her matches. I think it’s going to be a tough but interesting match. I don’t have much to say about her; I need to be focused on myself because it all depends on myself. But she’s a great player and a good person.”

Noskova, despite facing a less demanding fourth-round encounter, emphasized that she has earned her place in the later stages of the tournament. Her comeback from a set down to defeat four-time major champion Iga Swiatek in the third round disrupted the draw, providing her and her quarter-final counterparts with a clearer path to a maiden Grand Slam title.

Reflecting on her notable victory over Swiatek, Noskova acknowledged the confidence it has given her but noted the unpredictability of the Australian Open this year, with numerous surprising outcomes.

“It’s the first Grand Slam of the year,” she stated. “It’s obviously very tough for everyone, especially for the seeded players to stand their ground and play as they should. But anything can happen. We’ll see. There have been many shocking results in both men’s and women’s draws. The players who are there right now are amazing, so the next match and hopefully the ones after will be really tough.”

The women’s quarter-finals are set to commence on Tuesday, January 23.