'My younger sister motivated me today' - Yastremska adjusts to outgun Konta in Toronto

After staving off two early break points, Yastremska went from strength to strength in the second set, drawing gasps with the sheer pace of her forehands down the line - but also displaying some audacious reflexes with a few redirected backhand winners, delivered from a squatting position à la Agnieszka Radwanska. On return, the World No.33 pressured Konta not only with power but with relentless depth that frequently elicited shanked responses from the 28-year-old - and she was rewarded on two straight Konta service games as she broke twice to blaze to the brink of victory.

Serving the match out was something of an adventure for Yastremska, despite reaching triple match point in the blink of an eye with three service winners: it ultimately took her five match points to get over the line, with two break points having to be saved. Still, they at least provided Yastremska with extra canvas to show off some more tricks under pressure: the delicately angled reflex volley with which she saved the second was one of her finest shots of the day.

Up next for Yastremska will be another stern test in the form of either former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka or Washington finalist Camila Giorgi. "I'm going to see how they play each other first," said Yastremska of the potential matchups: she has played the Italian twice, emerging with a 1-1 head-to-head, but was quick to point out that with their past encounters coming on clay and grass, "it will be completely different". As for Azarenka, there is no official history - but, Yastremska revealed, there was a practice session in Miami to draw on.

"We played a couple of games - it was OK," she mused.

Source: Wtatennis.com

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Toronto • Squatting position • Agnieszka Radwańska • Victoria Azarenka • Camila Giorgi • Italy • Miami •