US Open: Jessica Pegula aiming to break last-eight barrier

Jessica Pegula says she is not feeling the same pressure as she aims to end her grand slam quarter-final hoodoo.

The American made it through to her seventh career last-eight tie at a grand slam after she beat Diana Shnaider in the fourth round of the US Open.

The previous six matches all ended in defeat, but Pegula has a different outlook heading into a probable tie with world number one Iga Swiatek.

She said: "I'll just try to draw on that experience and how maybe I’ve handled it in the past and what I’m looking to try and do mentally different this time.

"I’ve had a couple of deep runs in some big tournaments obviously leading up to here.

"I think maybe the only difference is I had kind of a tough start to the year, so I think I’m a little bit more maybe appreciative of being able to turn it around the last month like I have whereas maybe previous years it kind of came like quarter-final, quarter-final.

"So I feel like this time, I don’t know, maybe a little less pressure in a way.

"I think I’m just happy that I’ve been able to give myself another opportunity, I guess."

Karolina Muchova is not allowing herself to look too far ahead despite making the quarter-finals.

The Czech is playing just her sixth tournament since returning to the tour after 10 months out with a wrist injury and she is looking a real threat.

She demolished Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-3 and will now take on Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia.

"I’m not really thinking about winning the tournament," Muchova said.

"I came to the tournament in a different position, I would say. Not that many matches played. It is my second tournament on the hard court.

"Now playing a few matches, I feel like I’m building up the game. I feel better each day on court.

"I’m