Australia's Ajla Tomljanović is showing no signs of slowing down after her US Open win over Serena Williams, beating Liudmila Samsonova to reach the last eight at Flushing Meadows.
Tomljanović, who ended Williams' great's singles career in the previous round, defeated Samsonova 7-6 (10/8), 6-1.
It took Tomljanović just under two hours to beat the world number 35.
The Australian hit just nine winners and made 27 unforced errors, but the pressure she put on her opponent paid off, with Samsonova committing 56 unforced errors.
The first set took 82 minutes, as Tomljanović saved eight set points on her own serve.
Tomljanovic said she probably would have panicked had she known the pivotal 10th game of the match lasted almost 20 minutes.
"I think it's just about staying in the moment cos she played well and I don't really have time to dwell because the game is going by quickly," she said.
"I'm just trying to stay as calm as long as possible even though inside I'm dying."
The tie-break was leaning toward Samsonova as she broke for 6-5, but Tomljanović hit straight back to level at 6-6, before her opponent let a return from the Australian drop in for the mini-break.
Tomljanović then double-faulted, but she got back on track, then set up set point with a brilliant return winner.
Once she sealed the tie-break 10-8, the second set was a much more straightforward affair, with Tomljanović breaking serve in the second game and never looking back.
Tomljanović will next face the winner of the fourth round match between Tunisian fifth seed, Ons Jabeur, and 18th seed Veronika Kudermetova.
ABC/AAP
