Tennis - Rublev reaches quarters to be last teenager standing

Sep 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Andrey Rublev of Russia celebrates after match point against David Goffin of Belgium on day eight of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Russian teenager Andrey Rublev tamed ninth seed David Goffin 7-5 7-6(5) 6-3 on Monday to become the youngest man to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals since Andy Roddick in 2001.

Although Rublev betrayed his young age with a couple of outbursts, it was nonetheless a mature performance from the 19-year-old as he set up an intriguing last-eight showdown with world number one Rafa Nadal.

Sep 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Andrey Rublev of Russia returns a shot to David Goffin of Belgium on day eight of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

"Rafa is the real champion and I am going to just try and enjoy it," said Rublev, looking ahead to facing one of his childhood idols. "This is the quarter-finals I have nothing to lose."

While 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov was becoming the darling of this year's U.S. Open, playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium to adoring crowds, it is the hardworking Rublev who is the last teenager standing.

Facing Goffin for the first time, Rublev broke open a tight opening set, breaking the Belgian at 6-5.

Sep 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; David Goffin of Belgium returns a shot to Andrey Rublev of Russia on day eight of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

A stung Goffin, who has been hampered by a knee injury, immediately broke the Russian twice to open the second on the way to a 3-0 lead, leaving Rublev screaming at himself.

That seemed to provide the teenager with a wakeup call as he stormed through the next four games before eventually forcing a tiebreak, won with a blistering cross court forehand that Goffin could only stare at as it hit the corner.

An aggressive Rublev then moved in for the kill, breaking Goffin twice in the third to clinch a spot in the quarter-finals.

Sep 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Andrey Rublev of Russia celebrates after winning a point against David Goffin of Belgium on day eight of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

"I don't know exactly what was happening," said Rublev, whose path to the quarters included a second round win over seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov.

"I feel he had some problem with the knee then I feel a little bit more relaxed because I know now it just depends on me that if I play good I am going to win this match and this is what happened."

Sep 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; David Goffin of Belgium serves to Andrey Rublev of Russia on day eight of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

(Editing by Gene Cherry and Pritha Sarkar)

Sep 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Andrey Rublev of Russia celebrates after match point against David Goffin of Belgium on day eight of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Andrey Rublev of Russia (left) shakes hands with David Goffin of Belgium after their match on day eight of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Andrey Rublev of Russia celebrates after match point against David Goffin of Belgium on day eight of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports