• US Open, Day Seven

Pennetta takes out another seed as Peng Shuai falls

Flavia Pennetta proved too strong for Peng Shuai © PA Photos

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Flavia Pennetta continued her impressive US Open campaign by knocking out 13th seed Peng Shuai 6-4 7-6(6) to reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for the third time in four years.

Pennetta, seeded 26th, knocked out Maria Sharapova in round three and proved she could back up her great win with another giant-killing performance, showing tremendous tenacity to edge out her Chinese opponent.

The Italian may have secured her victory earlier had it not been for heat exhaustion. Serving for the match at a set and 6-5 up, Pennetta fell ill and vomited on court. Clearly not herself, she missed a match point and surrendered her break as Peng stayed alive by forcing a tiebreak.

Peng looked certain to level up at a set apiece when leading 5-0 and then 6-2 in the breaker, but Pennetta dipped into her energy reserves to reel off five points in a row before Peng missed an easy volley to hand her a place in the next round.

Angelique Kerber, who upset 12th seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round, lies in wait, the German reaching her first grand slam quarter-final with a 6-4 6-3 triumph over Romania's Monica Niculescu.

Second seed Vera Zvonareva, meanwhile, dispatched 22nd seed Sabine Lisicki with ease 6-2 6-3. The Russian stepped up her game during crucial points as she aims to make her second consecutive US Open final.

Sam Stosur edged out Maria Kirilenko in their evening match. The Australian fought her way back after dropping the second set in a marathon tiebreaker to ultimately take the match 6-2 6(15)-7 7-5.

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