U.S. Open glance
Friday’s key third-round results: Men — No. 1 Rafael Nadal beat Karen Khachanov 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3); No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro beat No. 31 Fernando Verdasco
7-5, 7-6 (6), 6-3; No. 5 Kevin Anderson beat Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4;
No. 9 Dominic Thiem beat Taylor Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-4; No. 11 John Isner beat Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, 7-6 (8), 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5. Women —No. 3 Sloane Stephens beat Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 6-3, 6-4; No. 7 Elina Svitolina beat Qiang Wang, China, 6-4, 6-4; No. 8 Karolina Pliskova beat Sofia Kenin 6-4, 7-6 (2); No. 15 Elise Mertens beat Barbora Strycova 6-3, 7-6 (4); No. 17 Serena Williams beat Venus Williams 6-1, 6-2; No. 19 Anastasija Sevastova beat Ekaterina Makarova 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Saturday’s lookahead: The Day 6 slate at Arthur Ashe Stadium features
U.S. Open champions Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic all hitting the court. Madison Keys, a finalist last year, also plays in Ashe. Perhaps the most intriguing matchup is No. 2 Federer playing No. 30 Nick Krygios. Federer is seeking his sixth U.S. Open title but first in a decade. He could face 13-time major champion Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
Saturday’s forecast: Sunny, cool. where she’s going to want to stay during this whole tournament,” Venus said.
Serena pounded 10 aces to just one for Venus, the No. 16 seed who was perhaps a little drained after two tough matches to begin the tournament.
Serena had an easier time in the first two rounds, though that was expected to change Friday under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium. They had combined for eight titles in Flushing Meadows, six by Serena, and each had beaten the other in a U.S. Open final.
But there was no beating Serena on this night, and the discouraged look on Venus’ face across much of the match indicated she seemed to realize it.
“I mean, she played so well, I never got to really even touch any balls,” said Venus, a semifinalist at the U.S. Open last year. “When your opponent plays like that, it’s not really anything to be upset about.”