One of the most hoped for matches in this years US Open came to fruition when the legendary Williams sisters met in the third round. It was a night session match on Day Five, but unfortunately for the fans it turned out to be a Serena (17) exhibition.
This was the 23 GS title winner at her supreme best, without doubt her finest display since she has come back as a tennis mum.
6-1 6-2 and into the round of sixteen for the 17th successive time at Flushing Meadows.
Serena faced only one break point for the match, which was saved, and converted four of ten break chances on the Venus (16) serve.
Winning 30 of 34 points on her first serve, Serena also hit 34 winners in a performance which should push her into tournament favouritism, or close to it.
While Serena deserves plaudits, the highlight of the day was without doubt the match between Rafa Nadal (1) and Karen Khachanov (27).
The match of the tournament lasted a touch under four and a half hours, every minute riveting. Khachanov had played Nadal just a few weeks back in Toronto, losing a tight two setter, but serving notice to the world by making the semi finals.
The 22 year old Russian opened here in attacking fashion, eight aces amongst 23 winners in set one, the forehand especially strong, and achieved two breaks of the Spanish serve from the two opportunities presented.
Nadal broke once, but lost his first set of the 2018 US Open 5-7.
Khachanov continued to pile on the pressure in set two, capturing an early service break, and he led 4-2.
Nadal dug deep into his reserves and found a way out of the dark spot, winning four of the next five games to level at a set apiece.
No breaks of serve in a tense third set, and a tie break was necessary.
Nadal looked safe at 6 points to 3, but Khachanov saved all three set points, and only at 8-7 did Nadal claim a point for a two sets to one lead.
Fittingly, the standard lifted even higher in the fourth set - thirty winners and only nineteen unforced errors between the pair. Nadal broke early, and maintained the edge to serve at 5-4 for the match, but Khachanov prevented the match ending this soon, and in fact gained a set point himself with Nadal serving at 5-6 30-40.
A tie break eventuated and this one was dominated by Nadal, who was relieved to escape with victory in his longest ever match played in a US Open. 5-7 7-5 7-6(7) 7-6(3)
Khachanov is a potential top ten player, possessing most of the necessary skills and a few key weapons from which to build.
Other third round results:
Men:
- Kevin Anderson (5) defeated Denis Shapovalov (28) 4-6 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-4
- Milos Raonic (25) defeated wildcard Stan Wawrinka 7-6(6) 6-4 6-3
- John Isner (11) defeated Dusan Lajovic 7-6(8) 6-7(6) 6-3 7-5, and will play Milos Raonic in the round of sixteen
- Dominic Thiem (9) defeated Taylor Fritz 3-6 6-3 7-6(5) 6-4, and will play Kevin Anderson in the round of sixteen
- Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Guido Pella 6-3 6-4 1-6 7-6(4), and will play Rafa Nadal in the round of sixteen
- Borna Coric (20) defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3 7-5 6-2
- Juan Martin del Potro (3) defeated Fernando Verdasco (31) 7-5 7-6(6) 6-3, and will play Borna Coric in the round of sixteen
Women:
- Sloane Stephens (3) defeated Vika Azarenka 6-3 6-4
- Elina Svitolina (7) defeated Qiang Wang 6-4 6-4
- Elise Mertens (15) defeated Barbora Strycova (23) 6-3 7-6(4), and will play Sloane Stephens in the round of sixteen
- Anastasija Sevastova (19) defeated Ekaterina Makarova 4-6 6-1 6-2, and will play Elina Svitolina in the round of sixteen
- Ash Barty (18) defeated qualifier Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-4
- Kaia Kanepi defeated Rebecca Peterson 6-3 7-6(3), and will play Serena Williams in the round of sixteen
- Karolina Pliskova (8) defeated Sofia Kenin 6-4 7-6(2), and will play Ash Barty in the round of sixteen
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