Dayana Yastremska into Adelaide WTA final

Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska has pledged all-out aggression in her first WTA final at the Adelaide International.

The rising 19-year-old downed Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in Friday’s semi-final at Memorial Drive to reach a career landmark.

The world No.24 faces a possible final against Australia’s world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, who plays American Danielle Collins in a Friday night semi.

“Ashleigh is definitely a very great player, Collins is more aggressive, but I don’t have any preference,” Yastremska said.

Yastremska has met Barty once before, a straight-sets loss last year in Miami, but promised to continue her overtly aggressive approach in Adelaide.

“I had a good preseason, I worked on a lot of things and I think that’s paying off … each game, I’m playing better and better,” she said.

“To be able to use my aggression on the court in the right way … we’re working on that.”

The unseeded Yastremska blasted 28 winners compared to sixth-seed Sabalenka’s 17 in a deliberate ploy to counter the Belarusian’s renowned power.

“That for sure was part of the tactic, to be more aggressive than her so she doesn’t have a lot of opportunity to be able to control the rallies and be in the court,” Yastremska said.

“And I think that was important against her, and against a player who is playing really aggressive, just try to get the first initiative of the rally.”

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!