Sofia Kenin has prevailed in a wild battle with Ajla Tomljanovic to earn an rematch with Australia's world No.1 Ash Barty at the Adelaide International.
Australian Tomljanovic served for the match then had three match points on Kenin's serve in the second set, but blew her chances in a 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 loss.
Tomljanovic converted just six of 15 break points across the match and made two crucial errors to gift Kenin the decisive break in the third set.
There was commotion before a ball had even been hit, Kenin needing special approval to wear her heavily-branded top that did not meet WTA regulations.
The 2020 Australian Open champion rode the highs and lows from there to set up a date with Barty, who she upset in the semi-finals en route to that surprise major victory.
Like Tomljanovic on Thursday night, Barty had her chances in that contest with set points in both sets of a 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 loss.
Kenin showed terrific steel to prevail again in the final as she shot to No.4 in the world.
The American has plateaued since, arriving in Australia as No.12 keen to rediscover her blazing best.
Earlier, defending champion Iga Swiatek stormed into the quarter-finals with a crushing win over 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez.
Fifth-seeded Swiatek joined the top-ranked Barty in the last eight with a 6-1 6-2 rout at Memorial Drive.
The Pole will face Victoria Azarenka next after the two-time Australian Open winner ended the giant-killing run of Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon.
A surprise first-round victor over dual Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, Hon had her moments against Azarenka before the Belarusian prevailed 6-3 7-5 after a tough second-set battle.
Barty had advanced to the quarter-finals on Wednesday night with a steely 4-6 7-5 6-1 comeback victory over American teenager Coco Gauff.
Seventh-seeded Elina Rybakina and American Shelby Rogers, who ousted Greek third seed Maria Sakkari, have already set up a quarter-final clash.
The other last eight match-up will feature Slovenian Kaja Juvan, the surprise slayer of world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, against Japan's Misaki Doi.
