She has flown under, even off the radar but inarguably, she is now the center of attention and the tennis universe. Anastasija Sevastova, the twenty-six-year-old Latvian is now a first-time US Open quarterfinalist having upset the reigning French Open champion and number three seed Garbine Muguruza in the second round and British number one and 13th seed Johanna Konta in the fourth.

Five years ago she reached a career high ranking of thirty-six in the world before leaving the game in 2013. Remarkably, after a self-imposed two-year hiatus due to chronic illness and injuries, Sevastova finds herself within the top 50 at number forty-eight. Her ranking no doubt will continue to rise following her extraordinary run at Flushing Meadows.

Upon her return to the WTA Tour in 2015, Sevastova won four ITF tournaments and defeated world number 10 Karolina Pliskova – also a quarterfinalist at the 2016 US Open -  in the second round of the Kremlin Cup after qualifying for main draw play. She would lose in the quarters to eventual champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

This season she qualified for the main draw at the Australian Open but lost in the second round to former world number one Ana Ivanovic. She made significant strides this summer reaching two finals on two surfaces; grass in Mallorca and clay in Bucharest.

Her lone title came in 2010 on clay in Estoril, Portugal. At just 5 ft. 7 inches, Sevastova covers the court exceedingly well and with her compact and fluid strokes poses a considerable threat to the game’s elite.

She possesses not only easy power but a deft touch too. She will face former world number one and two-time US Open finalist, Caroline Woziniacki in Ashe Stadium for a coveted spot in the semifinals. They have played only once before in 2011 in the fourth round of the Australian Open with Wozniacki winning in straights 6-3, 6-4.

As the season’s final slam draws to a close, neither player has anything to lose rendering both extremely dangerous and should make for a compelling quarterfinal match under the lights and roof.