28th seed Jennifer Brady continued her impressive play at this year's US Open as she routed 17th seed Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-4 in the Round of 16 on Louis Armstrong Stadium to claim her ninth win in her last 10 matches.
The American, who took home her first career title in Lexington, has won nine of her last ten matches and she advances to her first major quarterfinal against another surprise, 23rd seed Yulia Putintseva, who upset eighth seed Petra Martic to reach the last eight.
Brady into first Slam quarterfinal with career-best win
The start of the match saw each player open with a love hold, but it was Brady who took off from there. Her backhand had closed out both of her service games to give her a 2-1 lead and after Kerber fired a forehand long, the American had a break point. Another forehand error gave Brady a 3-1 lead.
A quick hold extended the advantage to 4-1 and a searing backhand winner gave the 28th seed yet another chance to break and she did so when Kerber misfired on yet another forehand to go in front 5-1. Serving for the set, Brady quickly brought up two set points and after the 2016 champion saved the first with a winner, she committed an error on the second that gave her a dominant opening set.
The second set began with three consecutive breaks of serve, the last of which saw Brady claim the advantage again after Kerber was errant on yet another forehand to take a 2-1 lead. Opportunities abounded as both players saved numerous break points in their remaining service games, the American holding steady as she maintained her lead.
Each player saved three break points over their next two service games with Brady clinging to a 4-3 lead. The defining moment in the match was a 16-point, five deuce game that lasted ten minutes, ending when the American ripped a forehand winner to end a 15-shot rally and claim a 5-3 lead.
Kerber hung tough, saving a match point to hold and cut the deficit to 5-4, forcing Brady to serve out the biggest win of her career. The American took a medical timeout to get her leg stretched out. She had two match points after the 17th seed missed on a forehand and another error off of that side gave Brady a thorough victory to continue her journey at Flushing Meadows.