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Reuters

A year ago Kaia Kanepi was reading books, walking her dog and trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.
After a tidy 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Daria Kasatkina put her into the US Open quarter-finals on Monday, the 418th ranked Estonian is now trying to figure out a way to beat Elina Svitolina or Madison Keys.
“I didn’t expect that,” said the 32-year-old Kanepi, who seemed genuinely stunned by her success. “I hoped to qualify and keep going, see what happens with my tennis.
“It’s pretty amazing where I am now compared to where I was a few months ago.”


Kanepi had been battling with painful plantar fasciitis in both feet and a bout with the debilitating Epstein-Barr virus and was contemplating giving up tennis altogether.
She had barely played in a main draw event for almost two years until qualifying for the US Open.
Despite her battles with Epstein-Barr, she has displayed remarkable endurance slogging through seven matches in 14 days, needing three wins in qualifying just to get into the main draw.
Aside from a challenger in Germany and failed bids to qualify for Wimbledon and a WTA Tour event in Romania, the US Open was her only other tournament this year.
Last year Kanepi’s lone main draw appearance in four WTA level tournaments came in Rabat where she fell in the first round, a marked contrast to when she was once ranked 15th and made five grand slam quarter-finals.
“I started doing fitness in December with a discus thrower then I did it for a few months already and my feet got better,” said Kanepi. “I didn’t feel pain anymore.
American duo Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens shine on cloudy Labor Day weekend at US Open
“Then I thought I have already done some training. Then why not try to come back.
“I missed adrenaline when I am at the tournaments. I missed winning. And I missed that feeling when you play well.”
Kanepi added she feeds off the energy of New York and even made a brief stop coming home from a recent holiday, just to experience it again.
“I have always loved being in New York. Even after I went to Hawaii, I came two days to New York just to stay in the city, because I didn’t play the US Open last year,” she said.
“I wanted to be in the city.
“I like the atmosphere. I like being here. I love the courts and the climate, and I think that the courts suit my game really well.”


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US Open (tennis)

The forgotten woman of tennis, Kaia Kanepi, still figuring things out back in the big time at the US Open

Kaia Kanepi finds herself in the quarter-finals of the US Open after beating Russia’s Darya Kasatkina in the last 16. Photo: AFP

Kaia Kanepi of Estonia reacts after winning her tennis match against Russia's Darya Kasatkina in their Qualifying Women's Singles match at the 2017 US Open Tennis Tournament on September 04, 2017 in New York. / AFP PHOTO / Eduardo MUNOZ ALVAREZ

Kaia Kanepi, of Estonia, returns a shot from Darya Kasatkina, of Russia, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Madison Keys joins American march into US Open fourth round after Vesnina comeback win

Madison Keys, of the United States, celebrates after defeating Elena Vesnina, of Russia. Photo: AP

American duo Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens shine on cloudy Labor Day weekend at US Open

Venus Williams of the US celebrates her defeat of Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain. Photo: Reuters

Tennis - US Open - New York, U.S. - September 3, 2017 - Venus Williams of the U.S. (L) shakes hands after defeating Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain during their fourth round match. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine

Sloane Stephens of the US returns the ball to Germany's Julia Goerges during their 2017 US Open Women's Singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 3, 2017. Stephens won the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMAD

Sport

Tennis

The Estonian had considered quitting the sport but now finds herself in the last eight of a grand slam


The forgotten woman of tennis, Kaia Kanepi, still figuring things out back in the big time at the US Open

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Estonian had considered quitting the sport but now finds herself in the last eight of a grand slam

The Estonian had considered quitting the sport but now finds herself in the last eight of a grand slam