Emma Navarro claimed another win over Coco Gauff at a Grand Slam after dethroning the defending champion with a superb three-set win at Flushing Meadows. Meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov is enjoying his best run at the US Open for five years after finding a way past Andrey Rublev in a gripping round-of-16 clash at Flushing Meadows. Elsewhere, Taylor Fritz won in four sets against Casper Ruud.
Reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff was sensationally dumped out at the fourth-round stage, as Emma Navarro advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory.
It was another landmark win for Navarro, who reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
She also claimed a second last-16 win over Gauff at a Grand Slam after beating her compatriot at Wimbledon earlier this year.
he 23-year-old now advances to her ninth tour-level quarter-final this year, and can look forward to a last-eight meeting against Paula Badosa.
There were double faults aplenty from Gauff in a nervy start to the match for the world No.3, and she was broken in the sixth game to trail 4-2.
Gauff managed to stave off a first set point for Navarro, until the latter served out the opening set to love.
After a cagey start to the second set, it looked like the writing was on the wall for Gauff when Navarro took another break to take a 4-3 lead.
But the 20-year-old showed her powers of recovery to break her compatriot twice more and draw level after taking the second set 6-4.
Gauff was crucially broken again in the decider to give Navarro a 2-1 lead, with the latter looking imperious on her serve.
In contrast, Gauff’s service game was continuing to suffer and it made a challenging task all the more difficult in her quest to hang onto her title.
Her 19th double fault of the contest yielded Navarro her first match point, and a wide forehand ngave Navarro a famous win.
Speaking after the match, Navarro said: “I lost in the first round in the last two years and now to making the quarter-finals is pretty insane.
“It was the city I was born in, and it feels so special to play here.
“Coco is an amazing player; I've got tons of respect for her and I know she's going to come back here and win this thing again one year.
“It was tough losing the second set, but I was able to regroup and come in with a fresh mindset, wanting to play aggressive tennis, and I was able to do that.”
Dimitrov edges past Rublev in five-setter
Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov reached the US Open quarter-finals for the second time in his career after a thrilling five-set win over Andrey Rublev.
The Bulgarian channelled the spirit of 2019 when he claimed a stunning win over Roger Federer to reach the semi-finals, and will be hopeful of at least emulating that feat following a 6-3 7-6(3) 1-6 3-6 6-3 victory over the Russian.
Dimitrov struck the first blow of the contest by emphatically breaking Rublev to love in the fourth game, and followed that with a hard-fought hold to move 4-1 ahead.
Rublev landed an audacious backhand on route to a hold at 5-3 to extend the set, but it would only prolong the inevitable.
The Bulgarian drew first blood on his second set point, and was showing few weaknesses in his service-game armour.
Rublev made an encouraging response, and moved 5-3 ahead in the second set after finally managing to break the Dimitrov serve.
But he failed to build on that, as Dimitrov broke straight back ahead of a second set tie-break.
The world No. 9 would take a two-set lead by winning six straight points and sealed the deal with a wonderful cross-court forehand.
That kickstarted Rublev into action, breaking Dimitrov three times to take a dominant third set in a mere 36 minutes.
Suddenly, momentum had swung in favour of the world No. 6, as he responded from 40-0 down in the third game and broke Dimitrov again to take the fourth set 6-3.
Rublev hit a long forehand in the decider, as Dimitrov moved 3-1 ahead and followed that up with a convincing hold to 15.
The Russian missed a routine backhand at the end of a pulsating rally, and Dimitrov wrapped up the game with an ace to leave Rublev serving to stay in the match.
He did so with aplomb, but Dimitrov successfully served for the match and progressed into the last eight when Rublev hit a backhand return into the net.
Reflecting on the match, Dimitrov spoke about the frustration of surrendering a two-set lead and admitted his run at Flushing Meadows was reminiscent of his memorable US Open five years ago.
He said: “I was playing very well in the first two sets, but for some reason my body was starting to lose its rhythm a little bit. I just had to stay patient, and the biggest thing that helped me was my experience.
“I love the atmosphere here; it brings back such good memories from 2019.
“I've been trying to enjoy every single moment; I'm celebrating every single day that I get to be out here. I'm focusing on myself.
"I've had some very tough weeks with my body, so I just want to focus on my rehab and the good things that I did today.
“I'm thrilled to be here in the second week.”
At 33 years old, Dimitrov is the oldest player left in the men’s draw and is ready for more gruelling challenges ahead.
He will face either Frances Tiafoe or Alexei Popyrin in the last eight.
“I feel very mature,” he joked.
“It's a battle every single day and now where I'm at in my career, it's all down to experience. Everyone knows how to play great tennis. It all comes down to a few points here and there.
“That's what actually happened today. A couple of points in the fifth set was enough to get me over the line.
“Every match I play is just going to get tougher and tougher.”
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