World number one Jannik Sinner recovered from a set down to defeat Canadian Denis Shapovalov 5-7 6-4 6-3 6-3 in the U.S. Open third round on Saturday.
The Italian dropped his first set of the tournament on Arthur Ashe Stadium as Shapovalov came out firing, unleashing some of his best tennis early.
But Sinner quickly shifted gears, raising his level across the board while the 27th seed’s error count began to climb.
The defending champion will next face either Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik or American Tommy Paul.
American third seed Coco Gauff also advanced, shaking off the nerves that hampered her in earlier rounds to beat Polish 28th seed Magdalena Frech 6-3 6-1.
“It’s been an emotional week,” said the 2023 champion, who showed improvement on serve with only four double faults after 18 in her first two matches.
“Today showed I was really having fun out there.”
Gauff will next meet Japan’s Naomi Osaka in a blockbuster Labor Day showdown between two former champions and crowd favourites.
Osaka earlier beat Australian 15th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-0 4-6 6-3 to book her spot in the last 16.
A third-round battle between long-time Italian friends ended early as Flavio Cobolli retired due to arm issues while trailing 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 6-2 2-0.
Venus Williams continued her age-defying run in women’s doubles as she and Canadian Leylah Fernandez beat Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri and Japan’s Eri Hozumi 7-6(1) 6-1.
Organisers moved the match from the Grandstand to Armstrong at the last minute, drawing large crowds to watch the 45-year-old Williams in action.
“We both have very aggressive games. We’re looking to move forward, to control the point,” said Williams. “We have a similar mindset, similar attitude.”
Poland’s second seed Iga Swiatek headlines the night session on Ashe, facing 29th-ranked Anna Kalinskaya.
Kalinskaya beat Swiatek on Dubai hardcourts in 2024 and reached the Washington final earlier this year but faces long odds against the six-time major winner.
Tommy Paul will hope to join fellow American Taylor Fritz in the last 16 when he meets Bublik in the day’s final match on Ashe.
Third-ranked German Alexander Zverev continues his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title against Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
