SNAPSHOT FROM DAY EIGHT AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN:

PLAYER OF THE DAY: Madison Keys – the 2017 US Open runner-up continues to fly the American flag after charging into the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-2 win over Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia. After 14 of her 17 starting compatriots bombed out in round one, the 22-year-old is the last remaining American in the singles draws at Melbourne Park.

STAT OF THE DAY: Roger Federer’s 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 fourth-round win over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics earned the great Swiss his 14th Open quarter-final berth in 15 years.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We had a good match here. Well, I had a good match against him in the third round last year. I’m sure he wants to do it the other way around and make me pay for that one.” – Federer forecasting a tougher time in his quarter-final with Tomas Berdych than he had in dealing with the Czech in straight sets last year.

TURNING POINT: Former champion and world No.1 Angelique Kerber was five points away from a shock straight-sets exit before rallying for a 4-6 7-5 6-2 win over Taiwanese surprise packet Su-wei Hsieh to remain in the hunt for a second title in three years.

TOURNAMENT SUMMARY: After all the early-round upsets, the women’s draw is starting to take shape with world No.1 Simona Halep joining usual suspects Keys and Kerber in the semi-finals with a 6-3 6-2 dispatch of Naomi Osaka. Federer and Berdych continue to protect the old guard’s patch in the men’s too, despite promises of the new generation finally taking over in 2018.