Australian wildcard Taylah Preston has continued her run of upsets, knocking off top seed and grand slam winner Emma Raducanu to make the Hobart WTA semi-finals.
The 20-year-old world No.204 was too powerful for the 29-ranked Raducanu, winning their quarter-final 6-2 6-4 on Thursday night - the best win of her career by ranking.
It is the first time Preston has made the final four of a top-level event.
She had to deal with a rain interruption and was down 3-1 in the second set before fighting back and breaking serve to clinch the match.
Preston, who also has a wildcard for the Australian Open and will face Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai in the opening round, beat fifth seed Jessica Bouzas Mameiro in Hobart's round one.
She backed it up with a straight sets win over Slovakia's world No.72 Rebecca Sramkova to make her maiden top-level quarter-final.
"I'm really happy with the way I hung tough. I was just trying to tell myself … play with good intent and be fearless with it," Preston said.
"I'm feeling pretty good about my game.
"To be able to beat these really good players gives a massive confidence boost but the job is not done yet."
Preston has matched the 2025 Hobart run of Australia's highest-ranked woman Maya Joint, who made the semis before having a breakout season.
She will meet either third seeded American Iva Jovic or Polish eighth seed Magda Linette for a place in the final.
Preston, who reached a career high of No.134 in 2024, said a decision to play a run of lower-level tournaments in late 2025 has gotten her game in better shape.
"Getting more matches up and finding myself on the court again has really helped," she said.
Only two Australians have won the Hobart crown - Jarmila Wolfe in 2011 and Alicia Molik in 2003.
It was a far-from-ideal preparation for 2021 US Open winner Raducanu, who has won just one match since September.
In Thursday's other day quarter-final, qualifier and 2023 Hobart finalist Elisabetta Cocciaretto was too strong for Hungary's Anna Bondar 6-2 6-2.
