Karen Khachanov punched his ticket the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday, advancing when Belgian Alexander Blockx retired from their quarter-final with the Russian leading 6-2, 7-5, 3-2.
Khachanov, currently ranked 50th in the world, entered the tournament unseeded at a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon in 2018.
But he is in his third Grand Slam semi-final after making it to the last four at the 2022 US Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
He will face either top-seeded Alexander Zverev or Dutch veteran Botic van de Zandschulp for a place in the final.
Khachanov's run to the quarters had featured wins over third-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and rising US talent Learner Tien, seeded 14th.
In Blockx, he faced an opponent who was already battling injuries coming in.
"I saw really that he was suffering all over his body," Khachanov said.
Blockx, the first Belgian man to reach the US Open quarters, said he was on the verge of retiring with a rib injury in his fourth-round win over Francisco Cerundolo.
On Wednesday, he had medical timeouts for treatment on a foot and for apparent lower back pain that hindered him throughout.
Latest stories
Mundo Rusia vota en unas elecciones legislativas marcadas por la guerra en Ucrania
Los colegios electorales abrieron este viernes en el extremo oriente de Rusia, en el inicio de unos comicios legislativos de tres días marcados por la guerra con Ucrania y en los que el partido del...
Montevideo Flamengo supera a un bravo Del Valle y en semis de la Copa lo espera Estudiantes de La Plata
El campeón Flamengo soportó la bravura de Independiente del Valle en el Maracaná, empató 1-1 y se citó con Estudiantes de la Plata en unas semifinales de la Copa Libertadores que también...
Montevideo Flamengo se tambaleó, pero ganó el último cupo en las semifinales de la Libertadores
El reinado del Flamengo en la Copa Libertadores estuvo este jueves a punto de caer en el estadio Maracaná: el campeón sobrevivió con un dramático empate 1-1 ante el ecuatoriano Independiente del Valle y enfrentará...