No.1 Pliskova survives Zhang in tight third round match

And it’s showed so far.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka prevailed in a tight clash against Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic 6-3 4-6 7-5. The 22-year-old from Ukraine is through to the third round here for the third year in a row.

Zhang’s spirit again came to the fore, though, with the next three games going her way to level the set.

“I think that bottom half of the draw is going to be surprising for one guy. Yeah, I couldn’t give my 100% today, like not my best”.

“These five-set battles are actually quite a lot of fun”, Federer said in his on-court interview in Arthur Ashe Stadium, “and I feel quite warmed up by now”. A seemingly simple forehand was sent into the net to set up a match point that the now ruthless Pliskova dictated, sealing an extremely hard-fought win with a rasping cross-court backhand. Federer’s 80th victory breaks a tie with Andre Agassi and leaves him behind only Jimmy Connors’ 98 victories at the U.S. Open.

Svitolina played only 1:22 in her Thursday match as she dispatched Evgeniya Rodina of Russian Federation 6-4, 6-4. “He’s not a god”.

A disconsolate Zhang, knowing she was so near a second career victory over a world No. 1 player, dissolved with a double fault and unruly forehand handing Pliskova the second straight break and second set.

What already was a wide-open women’s bracket became more so when 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was upset by 116th-ranked Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The top seed then fended off an incredible four break points and utilized her strong serves to overwhelm her unforced errors, narrowly holding her serve for a formidable 3-0 lead.

Top-seeded Karolina Pliskova was pushed by unsung qualifier Nicole Gibbs before turning it on late to secure a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory on Thursday in the second round of the U.S. Open in NY. Who will win the US Open titles this year?

Sharapova was granted a wild card into the U.S. Open, her first Grand Slam appearance since serving a 15-month doping ban.

Williams will play Suarez Navarro in the fourth round for her chance to reach the US Open quarterfinals for the 12 time.

“I didn’t get the best start”, admitted the Austrian.

He did falter repeatedly Thursday, though.

“Obviously it’s disappointing, but not more”, Dolgopolov said.

World number 26 Zhang had match point at 5-4 in the second set, but Pliskova turned it around to break and won the next two games to take it to a decider. She rallied from a break down in the third set. Youzhny stayed down for a few moments, then grimaced and limped around for the rest of that game.

“Last grand slam of the season and knowing you played fine previous year, you just want to play that good again”, Pliskova said.

“I find my way”, he said.