US Open champion Naomi Osaka confessed to being inspired by fellow young guns Stefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe after edging a step closer to back-to-back grand slam crowns on Monday.
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Osaka scrapped her way into the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 fourth-round triumph over Latvian 13th seed Anastasija Sevastova.
For the second straight match Osaka had to battle back from a set down to progress at Melbourne Park.
But the world No.4 never panicked on Rod Laver Arena.
"I was thinking I've been in this position before and actually last time it was a little bit worse," Osaka said.
"I didn't give up. She was playing really well. I wasn't really sure what to do at a point. I just try to stick in there.
"And also I was watching all these kids winning, like, last night Tsitsipas beat Federer and I was like, 'woah', so I decided I wanted to do well too.
"I mean, I was watching him and Tiafoe. I thought they were playing really well and just the fact that they came out here and played against some of the top players and won and I also want top players and won and I also want to do that.
"I think that's everyone's dream."
Osaka will face Elina Svitolina on Wednesday for a semi-final berth after the Ukrainian sixth seed earlier ousted American Madison Keys 6-2 1-6 6-1 in their fourth-round affair.
Australian Associated Press
