UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Canadian qualifier Brayden Schnur has made an improbable run to the semifinals at the ATP Tour’s New York Open.

Schnur, ranked 154th in the world, beat Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi 6-7 (7), 7-6 (5), 7-5 on Friday in a quarterfinal at the ATP 250 event.

The 23-year-old native of Pickering, Ont., who had never won a main tour match before this week, how now triumphed in five straight matches — two in qualifying and three in the main draw.

The biggest win was a three-set triumph over world No. 34 Steve Johnson of the U.S., in the second round. Schnur is projected to go up to around No. 120 in the world if he loses in the semifinals.

Against Lorenzi, Schnur out-aced his opponent 24-6. He fought off all three break points for Lorenzi and recorded the decisive break late in the third set to take a 6-5 lead.

The 37-year-old Lorenzi is now 111th in the world after reaching a career high of No. 33 in 2017.

Schnur, who played three years of NCAA tennis at the University of North Carolina, will face No. 6 seed Sam Querrey of the U.S., in the semis.