US Open Day 3 - Williams sisters to meet in R3

Day Three of the 2018 US Open saw second round matches played from the top half of the singles draw, both men and women.

What was predicted pre tournament has come to pass - a third round encounter between the Williams sisters.

Venus defeated Camila Giorgi 7-5 6-4, and Serena was especially efficient in knocking out Carina Witthoeft 6-2 6-2.

The Williams quarter has become a lot easier, with the disappearance of top seed Simona Halep and now 12th seed Garbiñe Muguruza.

The Spaniard manufactured her defeat to Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova, ranked 202, after leading 6-3 4-4, and then 6-3 4-6 2-0.  Muguruza wasted a number of break points for a double break, before losing six of the final eight games, dumped 3-6 6-4 6-4.

Another pair of Spanish players were happier with their exploits - Rafa Nadal (1) rolled on with a second straight sets victory, 6-3 6-4 6-2, over Canadian Vasek Pospisil.

Andy Murray said goodbye to Flushing Meadows, losing out to Fernando Verdasco (31) 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-4.

Cameron Norrie fell to Dusan Lajovic, meaning no more singles representation from Great Britain.

Two men’s seeds left the tournament - Stefanos Tsitsipas (15) at the hands of Daniil Medvedev 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-3

Jack Sock (18) kicked out by Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-6(3)

Others were more successful:

• Juan Martin del Potro defeated Denis Kudla 6-3 6-1 7-6(4)
• Stan Wawrinka defeated qualifier Ugo Humbert 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 7-5
• John Isner (11) defeated Nicolas Jarry 6-7(7) 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4
• Denis Shapovalov (28) defeated Andreas Seppi 6-4 4-6 5-7 7-6(2) 6-4
• Milos Raonic (25) defeated Gilles Simon 6-3 6-4 6-4
• Borna Coric (20) defeated Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6(4) 6-2 6-3
• Karen Khachanov (27) defeated qualifier Lorenzo Sonego 7-5 6-3 6-3
• Taylor Fritz defeated Jason Kubler 6-3 3-6 6-3 (retired)
• Guido Pella defeated Paolo Lorenzi 7-5 6-0 6-2
• Dominic Thiem (9) defeated Steve Johnson 6-7(5) 6-3 5-7 6-4 6-1
• Kevin Anderson (5) defeated Jeremy Chardy 6-2 6-4 6-4

Three other women’s seeds were eliminated - Julia Goerges (9) knocked out by Ekaterina Makarova 7-6(10) 6-3

Dasha Gavrilova (25) thrashed by Vika Azarenka 6-1 6-2

Maria Sakkari (32) sent home by Sofia Kenin 4-6 6-1 6-4

Winners:

• Sloane Stephens (3) defeated qualifier Anhelina Kalinina 4-6 7-5 6-2
• Elina Svitolina (7) defeated Tatjana Maria 6-2 6-3
• Karolina Pliskova (8) defeated Ana Bogdan 6-2 6-3
• Barbora Strycova (23) defeated Lara Arruabarrena 6-0 6-1
• Kaia Kanepi defeated qualifier Jil Teichmann 6-4 6-3
• Rebecca Peterson defeated Vania King 7-5 6-1
• Qiang Wang defeated Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3 6-1
• Anastasija Sevastova (19) defeated Claire Liu 6-3 6-1
• Elise Mertens (15) defeated Vera Lapko 6-2 6-0
• Ash Barty (18) defeated Lucie Safarova 7-5 6-3