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American star, 17, achieves remarkable slice of tennis history

To Amanda Anisimova, it seems "like, forever ago" that she was playing in the French Open main draw for the first time.

For the record: It's been all of two years.

Ah, to be young again.

Still only 17, and ranked 51st in the world, the precocious American with the quick strokes and self-described "effortless shots" became the first player born in the 2000s to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.

The teen did it by overwhelming Aliona Bolsova of Spain 6-3, 6-0 to earn the right to face defending champion Simona Halep next.

Anisimova, born in New Jersey and based in Florida, is the youngest American player to get to the round of eight in Paris since Jennifer Capriati in 1993, the youngest from any country since 2006.

Not that she's keeping track, mind you.

"I have no idea about who did what at what age. People tell me, and then I just forget after a second. I don't really care about it too much," said Anisimova, the words flying out of her mouth with the same sort of pace that tennis balls zoom off her racket.

"I'm in the present and I want to do good and I hope for good results, but I don't really think about how old I am."

Amanda Anisimova is the first player born in the 2000's to reach a grand slam quarter-final.
Amanda Anisimova won through to the French Open quarter-finals. Pic: Getty

Now she will take on the 27-year-old Halep, the No. 3 seed, who dispatched another teenager, Iga Swiatek of Poland 6-1, 6-0.

When someone asked about going from an 18-year-old opponent in Swiatek to Anisimova, Halep's initial reply was, "I feel old."

"To play against someone 10 years younger than me, that's not easy. But I feel stronger on court," she went on to say.

"They're young. They have nothing to lose. So every match is tough."

Defending champ looms large

Halep is one of only two women left in the draw who already own a major title. The other quarter-final matchup on her half is Aussie eighth seed Ash Barty against American World No. 14 Madison Keys.

Barty displayed grit and poise on Monday to end the giant-killing run of unseeded American Sofia Kenin 6-3 3-6 6-0.

In a fluctuating last-16 encounter, Barty ousted the third-round slayer of Serena Williams in exactly one hour and 30 minutes.

On the other half of the quarter-final bracket, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens meets British 26th seed Johanna Konta, while World No. 31 Petra Martic of Croatia faces 19-year-old Czech Marketa Vondrousova.

Stephens, the runner-up to Halep in Paris a year ago, joins Keys and Anisimova to give the United States a trio of French Open quarter-finalists for the first time since Capriati and the two Williams sisters made it that far in 2004.

Simona Halep is on track to defend her 2018 French Open crown.
Simona Halep celebrates after booking her spot in the final eight. Pic: Getty

If Halep's first attempt to defend a Grand Slam trophy got off to a shaky start with a pair of three-setters, she is really hitting form now. She has ceded a total of four games over the past two rounds.

"You have to enjoy the moment," Halep said.

Halep’s return paying dividends

The key to her success has been remarkable returning: She has won 70% of her opponents' service games, 30 of 43, which not only leads the tournament but reads as if it's a misprint.

On the other hand, her own serving has been an issue, tied for 49th in the 128-player draw at a 65% hold rate.

Anisimova, meanwhile, takes balls early, not waiting for a full bounce, and uses her strong shots to dictate points and wrong-foot her opponents.

"She just showed up," said Bolsova, a qualifier ranked 137th.

"She took the initiative."

Before heading out for their match, Anisimova watched Halep play and took notes.

"I was, like, 'Oh, my God, her backhand down the line is so good and she was taking her time," Anisimova said,"and then I think I was mimicking it in my match."

To Anisimova, this feels as if it's the next natural step in what's been a fast progression.

This is only her fourth Grand Slam appearance - she reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.

She was the 2016 junior runner-up in Paris, then the 2017 junior champion at the U.S. Open. Earlier that season, at age 15, she picked up a US Tennis Association wild card into the French Open for her debut at a major.

"Even though I was in the main draw, I was still in the qualifying locker room. I didn't even know they had a locker room here," she said.

"I'm aware of that now."

If she keeps playing like this, the world will be aware of her very shortly.