World number 115 Kanepi became the 15th active player to have reached the last eight at every Grand Slam. She came through a series of wild momentum swings to defeat Sabalenka for the second time in as many meetings. She upset the Belarusian 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(7) to reach the quarter-finals in Melbourne
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (L) greets winner Estonia's Kaia Kanepi at the end of their women's singles match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Pic/AFP
Kaia Kanepi completed her career set of Grand Slam quarter-finals with a thrilling upset of world number two Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open on Monday.
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World number 115 Kanepi became the 15th active player to have reached the last eight at every Grand Slam. She came through a series of wild momentum swings to defeat Sabalenka for the second time in as many meetings. She upset the Belarusian 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(7) to reach the quarter-finals in Melbourne.
The Estonian stalwart relinquished four match points at the tail-end of the third set and celebrated her landmark victory a point too early in the match tiebreak, before closing out the sizeable shock on Margaret Court Arena.
The 36-year-old will duel with world No.9 Iga Swiatek in the last eight, who had tears of relief and joy combined after battling past Romania's Sorana Cirstea 5-7 6-3 6-3 to launch into unchartered territory in Melbourne.
"Actually, I thought I was going to lose it after the match points I had on my serve. It was really difficult to come back. I don't know how I managed to do it," Kanepi admitted.
"Australian Open was the only quarterfinal Grand Slam that I'm missing. My age ... I didn't actually believe I will do it. I'm really happy," she added.
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