US Open revamps mixed doubles format, adds $1 million prize to incentivize "biggest names in the sport"

Persistence pays off—just as Kristie Ahn. Eleven years removed from her last US Open appearance, the former All-American from Stanford Kristie Ahn has improbably advanced to the fourth round.

Ranked No. 141, the wild card born in Flushing Meadows won the third-rounder of her true home Slam with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jelena Ostapenko.

"I've never played in front of a stadium that filled before, so it was pretty awesome to have, like, the majority of everyone cheering for me," Ahn told reporters in her post-match press conference.

It’s hard not to root for Ahn. After she graduated from college, Ahn's parents wanted to see her put her Stanford degree to use, and enter the workforce with a stable, well-paying job. But Ahn chose to put corporate America on pause to follow her athletic ambitions.

“I’ve heard so many people regret not striving for their dreams,” Ahn said in her post-match interview on Saturday. She didn’t want to be one of those people.

Until today, Ahn has spent the bulk of her career floating around the 200-400 range of the WTA rankings. With her career-altering performance in Flushing Meadows, the New York native will crack the Top 100 for the first time.

Ahn will hope to continue her Cinderella story on Monday, when she will face 25th seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium for a spot in the quarterfinal.

Ahn the money: Kristie, No. 141 U.S. wild card, in week two of US Open

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