A SNAPSHOT OF PLAY ON DAY SEVEN AT THE US OPEN

PLAYER OF THE DAY: Anastasija Sevastova – the Latvian ended Maria Sharapova’s grand slam return with a 5-7 6-4 6-2 fourth-round win over the former world No.1.

STAT OF THE DAY: At 170cm, Argentine Diego Schwartzman is the shortest quarter-finalist in New York since Jaime Yzaga in 1994 after ousting 16th seed Lucas Pouille 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 2-6 6-2.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “No one ever gives you a slam. You’ve got to take it. So I know that and so I’m going to try and take it.” – veteran Venus Williams after reaching her 39th grand slam quarter-final with a 6-3 3-6 6-1 win over Carla Suarez Navarro.

HOW THE AUSSIES FARED: Top seed John Peers, with Finn Henri Kontinen, is through to the men’s doubles third round after a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 win over Russians Mikhail Elgin and Daniil Medvedev. Jordan Thompson also advanced when he teamed with Swede Robert Lindstedt to end the great Open of John Millman and his English partner Kent Skupski 7-6 (7-4) 6-1. But Daria Gavrilova’s tournament ended with a 6-3 1-6 6-2 loss with Daria Kasatkina against Shuia Zhang and Hao-Ching Chan. Anastasia Rodionova and Ukraine’s Nadiia Kichenok also went out, 4-6 6-2 6-1 against Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

TOURNAMENT SUMMARY: Williams is three wins away from breaking her eight-year major title drought, while Sevastova will play another American, Sloane Stephens for a surprise place in the semi-finals. Spanish 12th seed Pablo Carrena Busta remains the highest-ranked player in the bottom half of the men’s draw after he ended the captivating run of teenage qualifier Denis Shapovalov in three tiebreakers. Busta will play Diego Schwartzman, while Kevin Anderson also has a golden opportunity to make his first grand slam final after moving into the last eight.