NEW YORK - Ekaterina Makarova found herself as the lone Russian left in a Grand Slam for the second successive time on Monday but insisted she'd rather be in the shadows not the spotlight.
Ekaterina Makarova returns a shot to Eugenie Bouchard of Canada during their US Open women's singles match in New York, September 1, 2014
The 26-year-old left-hander from Moscow is currently at a career high ranking of 18 and is Russia's number two player behind Maria Sharapova.
But just as at Wimbledon, she has proved more durable than her superstar compatriot reaching the US Open quarter-finals for the second year in succession, 24 hours after Sharapova was beaten in the fourth round.
After knocking out seventh-seeded Canadian golden girl Eugenie Bouchard 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, Makarova made a rare visit to the main press room to face the media, the kind of environment in which Sharapova is effortlessly comfortable.
"I think I prefer to stay in the shade. Of course it's always nice to hear congrats. But I want to stay in my world," said Makarova, both a respected singles player and doubles specialist having won the 2013 French Open title with compatriot Elena Vesnina.
Makarova, now a five-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, was then shunted out of the main interview room to make room for Andy Murray.
She completed her media duties in a smaller annex room in the company of one Russian reporter.