US Open champion Coco Gauff has raced into the last eight at Melbourne Park, with the women’s crown up for grabs following the shock exit of another top-ranked favourite.

Watched on by Australian tennis legend Rod Laver on the court named in his honour, the American dismantled Polish world No.69 Magdalena Frech 6-1 6-2 in just over an hour on Sunday.

It’s the first time Gauff, the fourth seed, has made it past the fourth round of the Australian Open.

Playing her last major as a teenager, Gauff has spent a grand total of four hours and 48 minutes on court through the first four rounds at Melbourne Park.

“I want to see The Iron Claw tonight … I want to go to the movies,” Gauff joked after extending her winning streak to nine matches following her title run in Auckland.

‘ I’m not in a rush’

“No, I’m not in a rush to go anywhere. There’s no better court in Australian than Rod Laver (Arena),  and it was an honour to play in front of you.”

Gauff never faced a break point and smashed 21 winners to lock in a quarter-final encounter with either Ukraine’s Marta Kostyukvs or Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva.

A second grand slam title is within touching distance for the 19-year-old Atlanta native after world No.1 Iga Swiatek followed last year’s Open runner-up Elena Rybakina out the door on Saturday night.

It leaves Gauff as the second highest seed left in the women’s draw behind 2023 Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, who she remains on a collision course to meet in the semi-finals.

World No.2 Sabalenka will first have to account for American Amanda Anisimova on Sunday, before meeting either 2021 French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova or 16-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva in the last eight.

-AAP