Alex de Minaur craves a breakout grand slam semi-final - or more - after joining rarefied air with yet another charge to the US Open second week in New York.
De Minaur wore down wounded German Daniel Altmaier with signature efficiency to join tennis heavyweights Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as the only players to reach the last 16 at eight of the past nine grand slams.
Australia's last player standing once more, de Minaur recovered from a set down to progress after Altmaier retired injured when the Demon was leading 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 6-4 2-0 on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
Altmaier had battled for more than four hours and saved a match point in an epic third-round triumph over Stefanos Tsitsipas and fought valiantly to back up.
But energetic tennis speed demon was a man on a mission and pounced after his sapped opponent required two medical time-outs to treat a thigh strain.
Once down two sets to one, Altmaier looked a man resigned to defeat and Australia's eighth seed moved in for the kill.
De Minaur was chuffed to learn of his new-found place among the game's big dogs but also determined to break new ground after two previous quarter-finals showings in New York, plus last-eight appearances also at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.
"The first thing that comes to my mind is my (second-round) loss at French Open. That one still haunts me. But, no, obviously, it's the results doing the talking," he said.
"It's a great stat to have. It shows my consistency, what I pride myself in is showing up every single day.
"I can have some good days or bad days on the tennis court but, ultimately, I'm still going to go out there competing and fighting till the very last point.
"Yeah I'm very happy with that stat, and now it's about taking it to the next level. You know, breaking some new barriers. That's the goal."
The 26-year-old has a huge opportunity to make the Open quarter-finals for a third time when he faces Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi, the world No.435, in the fourth round.
Despite his status as the eighth seed, de Minaur has to yet to feature on either Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong or even the Grandstand this year.
"Look, it is a little bit of a head scratcher for me. I'm not going to lie," said the world No.8.
"I've got nothing against Court 17. I've played some good matches on that court, but I kind of felt like maybe I could have played on a bigger court.
"But, hey, the way I look at these things when things don't play out the way I want them is just, I've got to win more matches, right?
"If I win enough matches, I'm sure I'll play on bigger courts.
"So it goes back down to the same kind of mentality as there's no point really complaining about it.
"My best action forward is putting my head down, going out there, competing, winning matches, and, yeah, if I keep on winning matches, I'm sure I'll play on bigger courts."
If he takes care of Riedi, officials will have little choice but to place de Minaur in the limelight as he faces either Russian firebrand Andrey Rublev or Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime - an upset third-round winner over third seed Alexander Zverev - for a spot in the final four.
De Minaur is the lone Australian left in the singles after women's 15th seed Daria Kasatkina lost her third-round clash with two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka 6-0 4-6 6-3.