Marketa Vondrousova backed up her Wimbledon title with a first appearance in the US Open quarter-finals on Monday, scoring a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2 comeback over American Payton Stearns.
The Czech Grand Slam winner claimed her 11th consecutive victory at the majors as she advanced to the last eight in two and a quarter hours over the former university player.
She then pulled out of doubles with partner Barbora Strycova.
Vondrousova moved into a first-time meeting against former New York finalist Madison Keys, who put out third seed Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-3 in barely an hour.
Keys will be playing her third quarter-final here after handing Pegula a debut loss in a Grand Slam fourth round; her last-eight place is her first at a major in five years.
Pegula came to the court with wins in 11 of her past 13 matches, a run of form which included the Montreal title last month.
Wimbledon quarter-finalist Keys earned a second defeat of a Top 5 opponent this season after dispatching Caroline Garcia in February in the Gulf. She fired 21 winners to just six for Pegula, a good friend on the Tour.
“I’ve had so many amazing moments in New York,” Keys said after a warm embrace at the net with Pegula.
“Being able to at any moment come back from any difficult positions I’ve been in matches has been amazing,” added the veteran playing here for the 12th edition.
“It’s always tough having to play a friend… when we get on the court it’s all business.”
The winner outlined her match strategy: “I tried to give as little rhythm as possible without messing myself up. I wanted to keep the points as short as possible.
“Jess is so good, the longer the rally gets, the better she seems to get.
“I was really just trying to hit the best ball that I could in the first one or two balls of the rallies – luckily things went my way today.”
Main photo:- Madison Keys celebrates victory over compatriot Jessica Pegula – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
