Karolina Pliskova continues to gather momentum as she returns to the quarterfinals at her breakout Grand Slam tournament.
The Czech saw off Roland Garros finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5 6-4 to reach the quarterfinal stage for the fourth time in six visits to Flushing Meadows.
The best of those campaigns came five years ago, when she beat both Venus and Serena Williams to reach her first Grand Slam final – and came within a few games of winning the whole thing.
Monday’s match against Pavlyuchenkova was a scrappier affair compared with her high-quality thriller against Amanda Anisimova in round two, and her serving masterclass against Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round.
But she was nonetheless pleased to find herself among the last eight again in what has shaped as a brilliant women’s quarterfinal line-up in New York.
“Of course, serve kind of helped me. Although not that many aces as in last couple matches, I felt I had many free points,” said Pliskova, who has served a tournament-high 58 aces in the women’s draw.
“In the important moments I was able to serve pretty well.
“It's good to be back in the second week as always on a Grand Slam. It's always the goal in the beginning of the slam.”
Pliskova’s ultimate superiority over the talented Pavlyuchenkova no doubt stemmed from the vast bank of confidence she has accumulated.
Her forgettable 6-0 6-0 loss to Iga Swiatek in the Rome decider overshadowed her impressive achievement of reaching a WTA 1000 final on clay that week.
Less than two months later she appeared in an even bigger final at Wimbledon, and followed that up with trips to the Montreal final and Cincinnati semifinals.
By reaching the US Open quarters she has now won 19 of her past 23 matches and has risen from world No.13 to No.4 in that same span.
“I think I'm feeling great off the court, on the court as well,” Pliskova said.
“I've been playing so much tennis and I've been having so many wins lately in the last couple weeks. I think that kind of helps to relax and just to enjoy a little bit more.
“Of course, the motivation is much higher. I think everything is kind of connected. I can just somehow play more free, there is not so much pressure on me that I have to win because I played well the last couple weeks.
“I think this also kind of helped to of course play better tennis if you are more relaxed and smile here and there.”
A more relaxed, free-flowing, confident Pliskova spells danger for the other quarterfinalists, given the Czech’s weaponry and greater experience at the top level.
She is the oldest player remaining in the draw and, bar two weeks in July, has been a permanent fixture in the top 10 for five consecutive years.
Her next opponent, either Bianca Andreescu or Maria Sakkari, will present an almighty challenge.
And there are other threats lurking, including No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova and Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic – all players in similarly impressive form.
But Pliskova’s confidence is high.
“I think it's really good success that now I had Wimbledon finals of course, and now I still have another chance to still go pretty far here in this tournament,” she declared.
“I mean, it's pretty open. Of course, there are opponents which are tough. But it's in quarters, so you cannot really expect anybody easy.
“I think if I still play maybe not like today, but like yesterday and the days before, I think I have a good chance to beat all those girls.”