For someone chasing an 18th grand-slam singles title, it would be natural to assume that reaching the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows was not too much to write home about.
Yet after her wretched year, Serena Williams leapt around the Arthur Ashe stadium in wild celebration of her 6-3, 6-3 win over Kaia Kanepi, of Estonia.
Dismal failures in Australia, Paris and Wimbledon had made the 32-year-old American fear that, for only the third year in her stellar career, she would not reach the last eight of any of the four leading events.
A solid performance from the world No 1 was characterised by a typically strong service game. Williams dished up six aces in winning 12 straight points on her serve at the start of the first set.
That set the tone and the result ensured that Williams will play Flavia Pennetta, the No 11 seed from Italy, who beat Casey Dellacqua, the No 29 seed from Australia, 7-5, 6-2.
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“I never thought it would be so exciting,” Williams said. “Yeah, it feels good. Obviously I don’t want this to end, but I’m just happy that I’m able to be performing a little better at the end of the year.
“I’m a perfectionist, I always want to be the best, do the best. I think I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well, particularly in the slams. I have had a couple of nagging injuries that definitely didn’t help. But other than that, it was just that. Now I’m more relaxed.”
Pennetta, who reached the semi-finals of the US Open last year, knows that it will be a tough task to usurp the powerful Williams, who is chasing her third consecutive crown at Flushing Meadows.
“You cannot invent something,’’ Pennetta said. “I mean, you just have to play your tennis. Of course, she’s better than me, but if I still believe I can beat her, maybe if she doesn’t have a good day, I can do that.’’