Kaia Kanepi is living proof to Nick Kyrgios that a world No.115 can in fact challenge for Australian Open singles glory.
While Kyrgios has been lighting up Melbourne Park with his electric charge through the men's doubles draw with Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kanepi has powered into the women's singles quarter-finals carrying the very same ranking as Australia's most enigmatic sportsman.
Defying the odds, and needing five match points, Kanepi sent world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka packing in a midnight fourth-round boilover to add another prized scalp to her collection this campaign.
The Estonian also took out former Open champion Angelique Kerber in the first round to confirm herself once more as a big-stage giant-killer to be reckoned with.
Kanepi also snapped Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak at last year's Gippsland Trophy event at Melbourne Park and now boasts 14 victories over top-10 rivals - including nine at the majors.
"Maybe I'm more focused on grand slams because I like big tournaments, and the grand slams are the most important tournaments," Kanepi said nonchalantly after joining an elite group of women to have made the quarter-finals or better at all four slams.
It sure beats driving trucks, as Kanepi does part-time in her homeland.
"I do if I can in the winter when there are ice roads, but last year I couldn't do. Maybe this year," she said.
At 36, Kanepi is the third-oldest woman to reach the Open quarter-finals since 1980, behind only tennis legends Serena Williams (2019 and 2021) and Billie-Jean King.
But the Scandinavian surprise packet isn't done yet.
Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek holds no fears for Kanepi.
"I haven't watched her, I never played her, and I don't know how her ball feels, so we'll see when I play her," Kanepi said.
"What I expect is to play good."
Swiatek or Kanepi will play the winner of Wednesday's other quarter-final between American Danielle Collins and Frenchwoman Alize Cornet on Thursday for a place in Saturday's final.
