The 2009 US Open champion is ranked No. 142, but will already climb back into the Top 65.
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The 2012 champion at Flushing Meadows will face No. 6 Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals Wednesday; the other matchup on their side of the draw is No. 3 Stan Wawrinka vs. 2009 U.S. Open title victor Juan Martin del Potro.
The Scot received a standing ovation from the 24,000 NY crowd at the end of a two hour demolition job on world number 24 Grigor Dimitrov that was arguably the best individual performance of the tournament so far.
With the victory, Murray set up a quarter-final clash with sixth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan, who earlier ousted Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in his fourth round match.
When asked about what has changed for him to rediscover some of his confidence, Dimitrov admits winning tough matches over quality players has ultimately made the difference in his confidence as of late.
And he only gave up two in the second to win 6-2.
Juan Martin del Potro is the lowest-ranked man to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals since Jimmy Connors in 1991, and it turns out a 27-year-old Argentine can share much in common with a 39-year-old American. I think that the other fastest serve was here at the US Open around 138 maybe, but I’ve never hit over 140.
The Scotsman, who won the Grand Slam title four years ago, will now face 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori in the final eight.
“It was too exciting on the court, but I tried to stay calm”, Nishikori said in an on-court interview. ‘He’s pretty good. So I expected a tough match.
“I don’t know. We’ll see”, Williams said during an on-court interview after reaching the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
“I’ve not been sleeping great since I’ve been here”.
Serena Williams sealed a record 308th Grand Slam win over Yaroslava Shvedova. When you don’t play your best and win, it’s a really positive thing. I think I was lucky.
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Since the professional era started in 1968, only Djokovic (2015), Roger Federer (2004, 2006 and 2007) and Rod Laver (1969, when he completed a calendar-year Grand Slam) have been to all four major title matches in one season – Andy Murray remains on course to join them. Not every day do you play your best.
Captain Leon Smith said: “I’m delighted to name the five players for this semi-final tie”.
He showed once again that wearing a Great Britain shirt brings out the best in him by winning a second consecutive Olympic singles gold medal in Rio last month.
“I’m just happy that it’s now and that it came”, the 24-year-old Czech said of finally making a deep run at her 18th career major.
“It’s going to be a hard match”.
“I’m just disappointed with the amount of errors I made”.
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The No.5 seed Simona Halep is also through, thanks to a 6-2, 7-5 victory over the experienced Carla Suarez-Navarro.
