Nadal survives a scare to make fourth round

World number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal came back from a set and break down to defeat Karen Khachanov 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/3) and reach the US Open fourth round on Friday.

Victory for the 32-year-old Nadal put him into the last 16 in New York for the 10th time and on course to add to his 2010, 2013 and 2017 titles.

However, 2009 champion and third seed Juan Martin del Potro, his potential semi-final opponent, also made the last 16 with a 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 win over Fernando Verdasco.

Top seeded Nadal triumphed over Khachanov after an epic 4 hour 23 minute struggle on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

But the 22-year-old Russian had his chances. He served for a two sets to love lead in the 10th game of the second set and had set point in the fourth-set tiebreaker. Results (seedings in parentheses) Men’s singles (third round): Rafael Nadal (1), Spain, def. Karen Khachanov (27), Russia, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3); Nikoloz Basilashvili, Georgia, def. Guido Pella, Argentina, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4); Dominic Thiem (9), Austria, def. Taylor Fritz, United States, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-4; Kevin Anderson (5), South Africa, def. Denis Shapovalov (28), Canada, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Juan Martin del Potro (3), Argentina, def. Fernando Verdasco (31), Spain, 7-5, 7-6 (6), 6-3; Borna Coric (20), Croatia, def. Daniil Medvedev, Russia, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2; John Isner (11), United States, def. Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, 7-6 (8), 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5; Milos Raonic (25), Canada, def. Stan Wawrinka, Switzerland, 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-3. Women’s singles (third round): Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, def. Rebecca Peterson, Sweden, 6-3, 7-6 (3); Serena Williams (17), United States, def. Venus Williams (16), United States, 6-1, 6-2; Ashleigh Barty (18), Australia, def. Karolina Muchova, Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-4; Karolina Pliskova (8), Czech Republic, def. Sofia Kenin, United States, 6-4, 7-6 (2); Sloane Stephens (3), United States, def. Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 6-3, 6-4; Elise Mertens (15), Belgium, def. Barbora Strycova (23), Czech Republic, 6-3, 7-6 (4); Anastasija Sevastova (19), Latvia, def. Ekaterina Makarova, Russia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; Elina Svitolina (7), Ukraine, def. Qiang Wang, China, 6-4, 6-4.