Late bloomer Koepfer in awe of 'unreal' US Open run

Dominik Koepfer arrived at the US Open with just two career tour-level wins, but the German has eclipsed that total in New York alone with his stunning run to the last 16.

Koepfer, 25, spent four years studying for a finance degree at Tulane University, in New Orleans, twice earning All-American honors as one of the nation's top collegiate tennis players.

This time a year ago Koepfer, currently 118th, was ranked outside the top 200 but his unexpected success at Flushing Meadows will easily propel him into the world's top 100, almost doubling his career prize money at the very least.

Koepfer, who turned professional in 2016, had pocketed USD 332,732 prior to the year's final Grand Slam but is guaranteed to collect a check for a minimum of USD 280,000 following Friday's 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-1 win over Georgian 17th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili.

"It's obviously great to be here. Qualifying for the first time and playing it, winning three rounds now -- I didn't expect that, to be here two weeks. It's amazing, it feels unreal. I can't believe it. I'm kind of speechless," Koepfer said.

Koepfer is based in the Florida sunshine in Tampa and cites compatriot Tommy Haas, a former world number two, as a hero of his in his youth.

"I met him at Indian Wells this year, went there and didn't get in, which was a bummer," he said of the Masters event last March.

Life on tour for those in the lower echelons of the sport can be tough. While there is a concerted behind-the-scenes push for increased prize money that filters further down the rankings, Koepfer admits his bumper US Open payday is a huge source of relief.

- Pressure reliever -
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"It's not easy to pay your coach every week and travel expenses, hotels, food, rent back home in Tampa. It definitely takes a lot of pressure. It's unreal, it should cover the next year or two."
"I'm pretty happy about my body, nothing hurts so let's hope I can come back on Sunday."