Williams survives scare
NEW YORK: Serena Williams survived a thirdround scare to defeat 2017 champion Sloane Stephens and stay on course for a recordequalling 24th grand slam title.
The 38yearold American dropped the opening set before staging a comeback to seal a 26, 62, 62 victory and set up a fourthround meeting with Greek Maria Sakkari, who beat Williams at the Western & Southern Open last month.
Also advancing in the women's draw was second seed Sofia Kenin, who overcame a sluggish start to beat Tunisian Ons Jabeur 76 (74), 63 and move into the fourth round for the first time.
Former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka breezed past Iga Swiatek 64, 62 while Belgian Elise Mertens defeated Caty McNally 75 61.
Seventh seed Madison Keys dropped the opening set to France's Alize Cornet before retiring early in the second set with a neck injury.
In the men's draw, Austrian second seed Dominic Thiem staved off a spirited fightback from Marin Cilic to beat the former champion 62, 62, 36, 63.
Thiem will next face Canadian Felix AugerAliassime, who made it to the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time with a 61, 60, 64 win over Frenchmans Corentin Moutet.
Daniil Medvedev, last year's runnerup, crushed American JJ Wolf 63, 63, 62 while Australian Alex de Minaur recovered from a secondset bagel to beat 11th seed Karen Khachanov 64, 06, 46, 63, 61. — Reuters