BRAZILIAN Beatriz Haddad Maia is through to the US Open quarter finals after grinding out a three-set win over former world number one Caroline Wozniacki on Lous Armstrong Stadium overnight. The match lasted two hours and 41 minutes with the Brazilian 22nd seed eventually getting the job done, 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Haddad Maia denied Wozniacki the chance at reaching a third US Open final to book her place in the last eight for just the second time in her career. From 1-1 in the first set, Haddad Maia won six of the next seven games to win the set and go a game ahead. However the Dane found her best form through the second set, breaking a couple of times to go out to a 4-1 lead and eventually levelling the match at a set apiece.

The Brazilian quickly raced out to a 3-0 lead in the decider, and while Wozniacki was able to hold her at bay throughout, Haddad Maia had the upper hand. Despite securing two break point opportunities, the Dane was unable to capitalise, and Haddad Maia served out the match.

“Caroline is such a [fighter],” Haddad Maia said post-match. “I respect her a lot. Her career is amazing, still amazing. I’m very happy [to win] because I respect her, and I know it was a very tough battle.”

Haddad Maia hit 17 more winners than Wozniacki (40-23) and only seven more unforced errors (39-32) in the contest, while winning a superior 70 and 38 per cent of her first and second serve points. Upon approach, Haddad Maia was able to capitalise on 89 per cent of her net points and broke five times to three throughout the course of the match.

The victory means Haddad Maia is just the second Brazilian woman to make the US Open quarter finals during the Open Era, and the first in almost 60 years. Maria Bueno (1968) is the only other player from the South American nation to achieve the feat, and Haddad Maia was overwhelmed when told of the fact.

“It’s very special to hear that, I did not know that before the match,” Haddad Maia said. “I always say, me, my team, my family, we work very hard…to create the opportunity to get these matches. It’s a privilege for me to be here, to not only represent Brazil but South America and the left-handed ones! It feels very special, I don’t have a lot of words now.”

Haddad Maia will now take on the red-hot Karolina Muchova after the Czech did a demolition job on fifth seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-3 in 69 minutes. In the other matches, world number one Iga Swiatek secured her place in yet another Grand Slam quarter final with a 6-4 6-1 victory over 16th seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova in 90 minutes, and will now face local hope Jessica Pegula who got past young Russian Diana Shnaider in similar circumstances.