Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese woman in 22 years to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam on Wednesday when she defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 6-1 in the last-eight of the US Open, admitting she was "freaking out" inside.
Osaka wasn't born when compatriot Kimiko Date made the Wimbledon semi-finals in 1996 but now the 20-year-old has the opportunity to go one better by reaching a maiden Grand Slam final.
To get to Saturday's championship match, the 20th seed will have to get past either US 14th seed Madison Keys or Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro.
"It really means a lot," said Osaka whose post-match, on-court interview endeared her further to a growing legion of fans.
Osaka celebrated her win calmly and coolly unlike the floods of tears which greeted her last-16 victory over Aryna Sabalenka.
"I cried a lot last time and there were lots of people making fun of me. So this time I went straight to the net.