Peng Shuai of China celebrates a point during her match against Roberta Vinci of Italy at the 2014 US Open tennis tournament in New York, August 29, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Chinese veteran Peng Shuai makes a major breakthrough in her tennis career by beating 14th-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova in straight sets to reach her first ever Grand Slam singles quarterfinals.

The 28-year-old clinched a shock 6-3 6-4 win with nine aces to clinch the victory, achieving her personal best records at the Flushing Meadows.

Peng Shuai, the only Chinese player left in women's singles, allowed Chinese fans to forget the injury-enforced absence of world No 3 Li Na when she stunned Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska at the US Open second round last week.

She kept China’s hope alive by beating 28th seeded Italian Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-3 to reach the US Open final 16 in the third round.