Peng Shuai Stuns Lucie Safarova to Enter US Open Quarter-Finals
Unseeded Peng Shuai toppled 14th-seeded Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-4 to reach first Grand Slam singles quarter-final of her career.
China's Peng Shuai reached the first Grand Slam singles quarter-final of her career on Sunday, toppling 14th-seeded Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-4 to reach the US Open last eight. (Wozniacki Beats Sharapova)
Peng, who had five Grand Slam fourth-round appearances on her resume but had never cracked the quarter-finals, fired nine aces past her Czech opponent -- including one on match point to seal the win after one hour and 11 minutes. (Federer Advances | Ferrer Ousted)
She converted both of her break opportunities and saved the only break point she faced in the opening set of the contest, which was played under the lights on the intimate confines of court five after a two-hour rain delay forced the day's late afternoon matches to be rescheduled.
Peng will face either Serbia's Jelena Jankovic or Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic for a place in the semi-finals.