NEW YORK: Defending champion Iga Swiatek barely broke sweat as she produced another rock-solid per-formance to roll into the fourth round of US Open with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Slovenian qualifier and best friend Kaja Juvan.
Swiatek grew up with Juvan through the junior ranks and the two dined together earlier this week but for 49 minutes in Louis Armstrong Stadium their friendship was put on hold while the top-seeded Pole got down to busi-ness.
Swiatek was in total control from the start, dominating all aspects of the match throughout a one-sided opening set during which she dropped just three points on serve and converted all three of her break-points.
It was more one-way traffic in the second as Swiatek won the first 11 points en route to a 3-0 lead before Juvan finally got on the board after 40 minutes with a hold following which the world number 145 smiled and playfully raised her arms in triumph.
Caroline Wozniacki won the battle of US Open comeback queens by rallying to beat Jennifer Brady 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 and move into the fourth round.
Wozniacki and Brady have been the feel-good stories at Flushing Meadows and their storylines converged on a sun-kissed Arthur Ashe Stadium court with the 33-year-old Dane continuing her dazzling return by reaching the last 16.
But 28-year-old Brady, just four tournaments into her comeback, and Wozniacki, playing in her third, looked as if they had never been away by treating fans to some quality tennis that at times had the crowd on their feet.
However it was Wozniacki, twice a US Open finalist, who showed more fitness and a little less competitive rust, winning 11 of 12 games after dropping the opening set.
Romania's Sorana Cirstea sent big-hitting fourth seed Elena Rybakina tumbling out of the US Open with a thrill-ing 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4 victory to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career.
"I've been paying for quite a few years and this was the best crowd I've ever played in front of," Cirstea said. "Thank you for the support, it's 12 o'clock so thank you for hanging out and making this amazing atmosphere.
"I'm very happy with the win today. I've lost twice against her and she's a good player, number four in the world and I knew it was going to be a tough battle. I'm just so happy, it's a great moment for me."
Up next for Cirstea is a clash with Swiss 15th seed Belinda Bencic but the Romanian said she was not looking too far ahead. Belinda Bencic beat Lin Zhu 7-6(1), 2-6, 6-3.
Coco Gauff won the final 10 games of her match against Elise Mertens, completing a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 comeback and reaching the round of 16, where she will face Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday.
In other third round matches, Jelena Ostapenko beat Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 10th seed Karolina Muchova beat Taylor Townsend 7-6(0), 6-3 while Xinyu Wang beat Anna-karolina Schmiedlova 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
In men’s section, American Frances Tiafoe overcame crafty veteran Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(6) in front of a raucous crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium to reach the fourth round.
Tiafoe, who will meet will meet Australia Rinky Hijikata, who got the better of China's Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, managed to convert just five of 15 break points and said the 35-year-old Frenchman's unpredictable style gave him fits in the nearly three-hour affair.
Last year Tiafoe became the first Black American man to reach the semis at Flushing Meadows since Arthur Ashe in 1972 and said he is determined to leave his mark on the game too.
The 14th seed Tommy Paul beat 21th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.
"I think we got him tickets to our box but he ended up getting better tickets right on the side of the court," Paul told reporters.
"I was definitely hearing him and it was fun. He got louder after I lost the third, which was cool. I went and talked to him a little bit after. It's really cool to have him there, I'm hoping he becomes famous."
Next up for Paul is 20-year-old American Ben Shelton after the 20-year-old ran away with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Aslan Karatsev earlier on Friday.
Top-ranked American Taylor Fritz has gone somewhat under the radar at the tournament, where he has yet to drop serve, dominating 18-year-old Czech qualifier Jakub Mensik 6-1 6-2 6-0 under the lights to reach the second week for the first time.
Fritz, seeded ninth, will look to stop another qualifier, Dominic Stricker of Switzerland, in the Round of 16.
American men are looking to snap a 20-year major drought at this year’s U.S. Open.
Stricker beat Benjamin Bonzi of Frace 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-2 while qualifier Borna Gojo beat Jiri Vesely 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to reach fourth round. Agencies
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