Wins for Karolina Pliskova, CoCo Vandeweghe and world No 418 Kaia Kanepi
Tuesday 5 September 2017 14:31, UK
Karolina Pliskova maintained her hopes of claiming a maiden Grand Slam title with an emphatic dismissal of Jennifer Brady.
The women's world No 1, who lost to Angelique Kerber in the final last year in New York, had faced a match point in the third round against Zhang Shuai but had no such difficulty against the American in a 46-minute 6-1 6-0 victory.
Pliskova's progress to the quarter-finals enables the 25-year-old to stay in with a chance of keeping her world No 1 status with Garbine Muguruza, who was defeated by two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Sunday, and Elina Svitolina also fighting for the top ranking.
"I played well," Pliskova said. "I really wanted to get the chance that I got after that match point. Definitely, that match helped me to go through tough moments and this match I was much better."
The top-ranked player took full advantage against her nervous opponent to control the exchanges from the back of the court and dominated behind her serve to win 22 of 24 points on her first serve.
Pliskova, who must reach the final at Flushing Meadows to stay number one, will next meet American 20th seed CoCo Vandeweghe after she defeated 37th-ranked Czech Lucie Safarova 6-4 7-6 (7-2).
Estonia's Kaia Kanepi became only the second qualifier to reach the quarter-finals when the world No 418 defeated Russia's Daria Kasatkina 6-4 6-4.
The 32-year-old Kanepi, a former world No 15 whose career was almost ended by illness and a crippling injury to both feet, will face Madison Keys for a place in the semi-finals.
Keys ended Elina Svitolina's world No 1 hopes to make it four American women in the quarter-finals.
Fourth seed Svitolina needed to at least reach the semi-finals to be in with a chance of taking top spot but fell to a 7-6 (7-2) 1-6 6-4 defeat.
The Ukrainian led 4-2 in the deciding set but Keys used her extra power to telling effect to win the final four games.
Keys joins Venus Williams, Coco Vandeweghe and Sloane Stephens in the last eight - the biggest home presence since 2002.
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