Triple platinum: The best pictures from the US Open third round
From impressive performances from Maria Sakkari and Petra Kvitova to thrilling wins for Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, all the best pictures from the third round of the 2020 US Open.
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As Day 5 got under way, there were rain-delayed second-round matches to be finished, with 18-year-old Catherine McNally capturing her first Top 30 win with an upset of No.21 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova by dominating the deciding tiebreak.
Simon Bruty/USTA
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Fellow teenager, 19-year-old Iga Swiatek, came from a break down in the decider to overcome Sachia Vickery 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 in another held-over second round.
Simon Bruty/USTA
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Fresh from pulling off the Houdini act of the tournament against Kristina Mladenovic, debutante Varvara Gracheva faced Petra Martic for the second time since the Tour's resumption in the third round.
Simon Bruty/USTA
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Eighth seed Martic reprised her Prague first-round win over Gracheva in straight sets to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the second year in a row.
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Aliaksandra Sasnovich had not taken a set from Yulia Putintseva in two previous meetings, but rectified that with a stellar opener in their third-round clash.
Adam Glanzman/USTA
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However, Putintseva roared back to preserve her immaculate record against Sasnovich, winning in three sets to reach the second week of a major for the third time - and first at the US Open.
Adam Glanzman/USTA
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2017 Wimbledon girls' finalist Ann Li had captured her first Top 20 win over Alison Riske in the previous round, and sought to notch up another in her first Grand Slam third round against Angelique Kerber.
Adam Glanzman/USTA
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No.17 seed Kerber quelled Li in straight sets to move into the US Open second week for the first time since winning the title in 2016.
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Playing her first Grand Slam main draw since her 2018 Australian Open breakthrough, 18-year-old Marta Kostyuk showed off superb battling qualities and brilliant reflex volleys in a popcorn match against Naomi Osaka.
Simon Bruty/USTA
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2018 champion Osaka drew on all her resilience to survive a thrilling, volatile rollercoaster of a match against Kostyuk 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 and seal her place in a third straight US Open second week.
Simon Bruty/USTA
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Osaka has drawn attention to the injustice of recent Black deaths with different masks this week, honoring Ahmaud Arbery in her third match after Elijah McClain in her second and Breonna Taylor in her first.
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Lexington champion Jennifer Brady had previously reached the US Open fourth round on her 2017 debut, and returned to that stage by out-serving Caroline Garcia to edge ahead 4-3 in their rivalry.
Brad Penner/USTA
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The US Open is the only major at which Petra Kvitova is yet to reach the semifinals, but the Czech returned to the second week for the sixth time with a straight-sets defeat of Jessica Pegula.
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Amanda Anisimova, playing the third round of her home Grand Slam for the first time, faced an intriguing first encounter with No.15 seed Maria Sakkari.
Simon Bruty/USTA
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For the second time in as many weeks, Sakkari conceded just four games to an American teenager, racing past Anisimova 6-3, 6-1 to become the first Greek woman in the US Open fourth round since Eleni Daniilidou in 2004.
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In a clash of former US Open champions, Sloane Stephens was bidding for her first Top 10 win at a Grand Slam since Venus Williams in the 2017 US Open semifinals and her first Top 100 win of the year against Serena Williams.
Simon Bruty/USTA
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However, Serena essayed one of her signature comebacks to defeat Stephens 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, preserving her mastery of a rivalry in which she has now won six out of seven matches.
Simon Bruty/USTA
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In the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time, Catherine McNally jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead over No.16 seed Elise Mertens, with the 18-year-old's net game working a treat.
Andrew Ong/USTA
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Cincinnati semifinalist Mertens had to save two set points serving at 4-5 in the first set, but gradually reeled McNally in with her trademark tactical tennis for a 7-5, 6-1 win and a second straight spot in the US Open second week.
Andrew Ong/USTA
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Bidding to reach the second week of a major for just the third time in her career, Sorana Cirstea advanced to a 5-3 lead in the third set over Karolina Muchova, then held triple match point in the deciding tiebreak.
Andrew Ong/USTA
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However, Muchova saved all three match points in style - one with a backhand winner on the line and another with a serve-and-volley - to add to the tournament's list of great escapes, ultimately winning 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(7).
Andrew Ong/USTA
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The unranked Tsvetana Pironkova continued to cut up the draw, displaying less rust after three years off than some others after six months off and preserving her perfect record over Donna Vekic to defeat the No.18 seed 6-4, 6-1.
Pete Staples/USTA
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Iga Swiatek signalled her intent on taking down a big name by jumping out to an immediate break lead on two-time US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka.
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However, Azarenka stormed back for a 6-4, 6-2 win over the 19-year-old Swiatek, and the Cincinnati champion - making it three mothers in the last 16 alongside Serena Williams and Tsvetana Pironkova - has now won 16 of her last 17 sets.
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Alizé Cornet has now reached the second week at every Grand Slam after the Frenchwoman saved a set point against No.7 seed Madison Keys, then progressed when the American retired due to a neck injury.
Pete Staples/USTA
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Ons Jabeur and Sofia Kenin have been facing off since their ITF $25K days in 2016, and the Tunisian sought to reverse their Australian Open quarterfinal result by taking a break lead in the first set.
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Australian Open champion Kenin recovered to win her fifth match in six against Jabeur, triumphing 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the second week of her home Grand Slam for the first time.
Brad Penner/USTA
