Serena Williams had to summon up every last ounce of strength to depose 15th seed Maria Sakkari in three hard-fought sets on Monday.
The 38-year-old American needed almost two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek opponent 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
“She’s such a good competitor. It was a really intense match,” said Williams, who had been dumped out of a US Open tuneup tournament by the same opponent last month.
“I felt like she almost played better today. I was a little fatigued last time and had some cramps. Just felt like I was able to compete longer,” Williams added.
Williams rallied from two games down in the deciding set, pumping herself up with loud screams that echoed around the spectator-free arena as she broke Sakkari twice to clinch the last-eight spot.
“I’m super passionate. This is my job. This is what I wake up to do. This is what I train to do 365 days of the year,” Williams said afterwards.
The American will play Tsvetana Pironkova for a place in the semi-finals after the Bulgarian ousted Alize Cornet in another draining three-setter.
Pironkova rolls on
Pironkova, who is playing her first tournament in three years after a lengthy break during which she gave birth to her son, prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“It’s absolutely unreal, I really can’t believe it,” said Pironkova, whose last tournament appearance before this year’s US Open was the 2017 Wimbledon championships when she exited in the second round.
Also, unseeded Victoria Azarenka came from a set down to oust 20th seed Karolina Muchova 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in 2hr 30min.
However, second seed Sofia Kenin was sent crashing out of the tournament, beaten in straight sets by Elise Mertens.
Kenin, the highest seeded player left in the fray and winner of the 2020 Australian Open, was bundled out of the last 16 6-3, 6-3, in 1hr 14 mins by Mertens.
Mertens, the 16th seed, will now play Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals.