Great American hope Coco Gauff has made it through to the US Open quarter-finals where the teenager will take on in-form Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.
Gauff came through against China’s Zhang Shuai with a 7-5 7-5 triumph in just under two hours to set up a clash against Garcia, who continued her red-hot form with a crushing 6-4 6-1 win over American 29th seed Alison Riske-Amritraj.
In a battle between the youngest player left in the draw, 18-year-old Gauff, and the oldest, 33-year-old Zhang, it was the Chinese player who looked sharper in the early stages, breaking for a 2-0 lead in the first set.
But 12th seed Gauff battled back and fired a stunning backhand winner to claim the first set in front of an electrifying crowd.
Zhang, a human backboard content to extend rallies from the baseline, grabbed a 5-3 lead in the second set when she broke Gauff.
But Gauff broke back to take a 6-5 lead and won the point of the match with her astonishing speed when she slid from corner to corner to elicit the error from Zhang at the net.
The crowd roared in approval while Zhang covered her ears to block out the sound, which was amplified by the closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium due to rain.
Gauff sealed the affair on an error by Zhang before the pair exchanged a warm hug at the net.
Next up is Garcia, who came through qualifying to win the Cincinnati Open just before Flushing Meadows, and is on a 12-match winning streak.
“I’m trying to be aggressive, go for my shots, even when I’m feeling tight. I’m having fun, yeah,” said the 17th-seeded Garcia.
Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/tennis, our Twitter account @skysportstennis & Sky Sports – on the go! Available to download now on – iPhone & iPad and Android