NEW YORK - South Africa's Kevin Anderson reached a grand slam semi-final for the first time on Wednesday when he defeated Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
The 28th seed defeated the 17th-seeded American 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) to set up a clash with Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, who will also be appearing in his maiden last-four at a major.
Anderson's victory means he will become the US Open's first South African semi-finalist since Cliff Drysdale in 1965 and the first in any Slam since Wayne Ferreira at the 2003 Australian Open.
"To play in one of the most famous courts in the world at night and to get through, it feels fantastic," said Anderson.
With Anderson standing 6ft 8in (2.02m) and Querrey 6ft 6in (1.97m), it was the tallest matchup ever so late in any Slam.
Carreno Busta, the first player in any Grand Slam to face four qualifiers, cruised into his first Slam semi-final by ousting Argentine 29th seed Diego Schartzman 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
"Incredible," Carreno Busta said. "It's something that I always dreamed about but something I never thought was going to arrive here. It's a great feeling."
The two remaining quarter-finals will see Rafael Nadal face Russian teen Andrey Rublev and Roger Federer take on Argentine veteran Juan Martin del Potro.