By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, September 2, 2014
In her 37th career Grand Slam, China's Peng Shuai has become the second player from her country to reach the US Open semis.
Photo Source: Getty
On her 37th Grand Slam appearance, China’s Peng Shuai has broken through, joining Li Na and Zheng Jie as one of three players to have ever reached the last four of a major from China with a 6-2, 6-1 drubbing of 17-year-old Belinda Bencic.
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“It’s an amazing time for me,” said Peng, who was in tears during her post-match interview with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi. “It’s a little bit too exciting.”
Peng, who has not dropped a set in her first five matches in New York, has not dropped serve since her second-round upset of Agnieszka Radwanska. Since then she has reeled off 37 consecutive holds, and not faced a set point.
“I love tennis, I love to play,” said Peng, “but it’s a long time, the career. It’s tough sometimes I’m thinking to give up and almost stop playing because I don’t know if I can make it or not. It’s really thanks to my coach and my parents—they always tell me to keep fighting and to never ever give up, and today it’s coming.”
Peng hit 24 winners against 7 unforced errors against Bencic, She hit five aces and converted on four of five break points.
The 28-year-old will bid to become China’s second Grand Slam finalist when she meets either Caroline Wozniacki or Sara Errani in the semifinals.
Bencic, 17, was playing in her fourth career major and her first US Open. She will rise inside the WTA’s top 35 for her career-best result at a major. She also became the youngest US Open quarterfinalist since 1997.