The dream run of qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich continues with the Belarusian the first woman through to the Brisbane International semifinals after a come-from-behind defeat of last year’s finalist Alize Cornet on Thursday.
After conceding the first set to the French former world No.11, the 23-year-old left the court for a medical time-out.
It proved a masterstroke as she returned to reel off the next two sets for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph, her sixth straight win in this tournament having won through qualifying.
It was a case of third time lucky for the Belarusian, who failed to make it through qualifying in Brisbane in her two previous attempts.
“The first two times, bad. But the third time, I pass the qualies, not bad.” said Sasnovich, who is fast becoming a crowd favourite.
“In the beginning, I couldn’t even imagine that I (would) pass the qualies and be in the semis. So it’s an incredible week for me.
“Everyone can beat everyone. It’s tennis. You know, the ball is round. Each day is a new day and anything can happen.”
The victory marks her fourth straight match win coming from a set down after doing so against Polina Monova – in the final round of qualifying – against No.6 seed Kristina Mladenovic, Anett Kontaveit and now Cornet.
Sasnovich ended last season in sizzling form when she upset US Open champion Sloane Stephens in Belarus’s narrow defeat to the United States in the Fed Cup final in Minsk.
And she will carry a good-luck charm into her semifinal with her father having flown in after hearing she made the quarterfinals.
“He flew 24 hours from Minsk to Brisbane and he didn’t sleep in two days,” Sasnovich said.