Emma Navarro is ready for the challenge of either Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng Qinwen as she bids for US Open glory at Flushing Meadows.
Navarro, who had never made it past the first round in her previous appearances at New York, put on an impressive display to win in straight sets against Paula Badosa.
The American found herself 5-1 down in the second set, only to win the next six games in a row to reach her maiden grand slam semi-final.
She also became the second American player since 2000 to make their first grand slam women's singles semi-final at the US Open, after Jennifer Brady did so in 2020.
But waiting in the next round is last year's runner-up, Sabalenka, or the recently crowned Olympic champion Zheng, a challenge Navarro is not shying away from.
"I've played both of them a couple of times,” said Navarro. “They are great players, I think we will have a great battle. But I'll be up for the challenge of either of them.
"Both big servers, big hitters and I think they will come aggressively at me whichever one it is - but yeah I'll be ready."
Navarro had only won one match at the main stage of a grand slam before this year, but has got better and better throughout her breakout year of 2024.
She reached the third round of the Australian Open, the last 16 at the French Open, the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and now the semi-finals of her home slam.
"After I got it back to 5-2, I had a bit of an inkling that it might be two sets," added Navarro.
"I just wanted to stay really tough and stick in there and even if I did lose the second set, I wanted to set the tone for the third set.
"Just really happy with my performance today. Crazy to be moving on to the semi-finals. US Open baby."
US Open: Draper has more to give after 'dream' De Minaur win
Jack Draper labelled his US Open triumph over Alex de Minaur as a "dream come true", but insists he still has another level to come at Flushing Meadows.
Draper, who is yet to drop a set at the tournament, advanced to his maiden grand slam semi-final in straight sets against the world number 10 in New York.
In the last 40 years (since 1985), only Novak Djokovic and Ivan Lendl have reached the men's singles semi-finals at the US Open with fewer games dropped than the Briton this year (36).
Draper is also the lowest-ranked player left in the tournament, and is the first British men’s player to reach the semi-finals at the US Open since Andy Murray in 2012.
"It's amazing, honestly. To be out here in my first match on the biggest court in the world, honestly it's a dream come true for me," Draper said.
"Thank you for all the support, it means the world. I think I played a solid match and I feel the best fitness-wise that I've been in a long time.
"I think that's where Alex has got me in the past. I also think he was maybe struggling a little bit today with something and that may have helped me a little bit.
But standing in his way of reaching the final is world number one Jannik Sinner, who beat Daniil Medvedev in four sets at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Italian is the only player remaining in the tournament to win a grand slam title, having done so earlier this year at the Australian Open.
And while the challenge looks an imposing one, Draper insisted he still has more in the tank as he aims to achieve what would be the biggest win of his career.
"This is not an overnight thing for me," Draper added. "I felt like my level today was solid, there were some glimpse of really good stuff.
"I still have some levels to go if I get pushed."
US Open: Sinner 'stayed in the moment' to see off Medvedev
Jannik Sinner was pleased with how he "stayed in every moment" in a "tough" US Open quarter-final against Daniil Medvedev.
The world number one is the only grand slam winner left in the draw after overcoming Medvedev, the 2021 champion at Flushing Meadows, in four sets.
Sinner has reached the semi-final at the US Open for the first time in his career, becoming the fourth active player to reach that stage at all four grand slams.
His triumph means he will play Jack Draper for a place in the final, with the Brit yet to drop a set in an impressive display in New York.
And Sinner acknowledged how hard he had to work to get there after going toe-to-toe with Medvedev for the third time in grand slams this year.
"Tough match, obviously," Sinner said. "Starting a break up in the first and third helps with the confidence, it helped me mentally to stay there in every moment.
"We played in Australia this year and then London. We knew it was going to be very physical. It was strange the first two sets because whoever made the first break then started to roll.
"I'm happy how I handled the situation, it's very tough against him. I think it was a great match from both sides. The fourth set was very tough."
Meanwhile, Medvedev was unable to capitalise on a strong second set, as the only former US Open champion left in the men's draw crashed out.
The Russian made six double faults and 57 unforced errors as he struggled to match Sinner's aggressive play in the latter stages.
"Sometimes you feel like you're doing all good, and then you miss, and then you have question marks, et cetera," Medvedev said.
"Maybe today I was going for a little bit more risky shots, I was missing just a bit more. As I said, one moment I kind of got lost in my misses."
US Open: Pegula was confident in downing 'prime' Swiatek at Flushing Meadows
Jessica Pegula admitted she was confident in beating a "prime" Iga Swiatek to reach her first grand slam semi-final at the US Open.
Pegula, who had lost her previous six slam quarter-finals, came through in straight sets at Flushing Meadows to stun the world number one.
She also became the fourth American in the Open Era to reach the women’s singles semi-final at the Canadian, Cincinnati and US Open in a calendar year after Rosemary Casals (1970), Serena Williams (2013-15) and Sloane Stephens (2017).
Pegula's triumph set up a meeting with Karolina Muchova for a place in the final after the Czech overcame illness to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia, also in straight sets.
With Emma Navarro along with Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz advancing to the final four, it is the first time two Americans have reached the semi-finals in the women’s and men’s singles at the US Open since 2003, with Jennifer Caprati, Lindsay Davenport, Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi the first do so.
It also marked Pegula's fourth victory over the Pole, with the latest win considered one of her best.
"I've been [to the quarter-finals] so many freaking times but I kept losing," Pegula said.
"Finally - finally - I can say I'm a semi-finalist. Thank you to the crowd, you carried me through that last game.
"To do it at prime time against the number one player in the world - it's crazy, but I knew I could do it."
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