Melbourne (AFP)
Sofia Kenin (15th in the world) dominated her American compatriot Coco Gauff (67th) 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Australian Open where she will face the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (78th).
"It was a big game against a great player. This victory means a lot to me," said Kenin, 21, saying "speechless".
After a tight first set, Kenin made a correction to the youngest player in the tournament (15) who eliminated Venus Williams in the first round and the defending champion, Japanese Naomi Osaka, in the 3rd.
His best result in Melbourne so far was the 2nd round achieved last year. In the Grand Slam, the American born in Moscow had risen to the knockout stages at Roland Garros, also last season.
Kenin will face Jabeur for a place in the last four.
The 25-year-old Tunisian, the first player in the Arab world to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, eliminated 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 the Chinese Qiang Wang (29th) who had caused the stupor in dismissing in the 3rd round Serena Williams.
"I'm trembling, it's really incredible, I can't describe how I feel," said Jabeur after qualifying on Sunday.
"I started the match very well, but then it was my sister who played, not me (laughs)! If I play well it is me, if I play badly it is my sister!" she joked.
"I hung on and I knew that the tie-break was very important to me. I am very happy with the way I played today, especially in the second set," she added.
© 2020 AFP