US Open: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer resume title tilt in New York
Saturday 2 September 2017 19:52, UK
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will resume their bid for US Open glory on Saturday as the illustrious pair aim to maintain their dominance of the Grand Slams in 2017.
Both have encountered a testing opening week in New York, especially Federer who has needed two five-set victories to progress to the third round amid concerns of a back injury.
The 19-time Grand Slam champion has enjoyed limited match practice since winning Wimbledon in July and was close to an early exit at Flushing Meadows when he trailed Mikhail Youzhny two sets to one on Thursday while Nadal recovered from a set and a break down against Japanese world No 121 Taro Daniel.
Nadal will face 59th-ranked Argentine lucky loser Leonardo Mayer in the third day session match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium as the Spaniard seeks to add to his French Open title at Roland Garros in June.
Federer will open the night session against the experienced Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who won Queen's earlier this summer, as the world No 3 aims to claim his third Grand Slam title of the year.
Eighth seed Dominic Thiem and 24th seed and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro are other big names to feature.
Women's draw highlights
There are several big name players in action from the women's draw including world No 1 Karolina Pliskova, who opens the day's schedule against Chinese 27th seed Zhang Shuai, while Agnieszka Radwanska and Elina Svitolina also return to the court against American pair Coco Vandeweghe and Shelby Rogers respectively.
However, the match of note features two promising stars of the WTA Tour in Jelena Ostapenko, who won the French Open earlier this year as a 19-year-old, against Russian 20-year-old Daria Kasatkina.
The Latvian has proved her result in Paris was no fluke by becoming a consistent performer on tour and the world No 12 has already secured her best run in New York but will be desperate to continue her good form at Flushing Meadows.
What happened on Friday?
Petra Kvitova and Garbine Muguruza secured comprehensive third-round victories to book a fourth-round meeting which promises to be a fascinating contest.
In the men's draw there was a surprise exit for 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic as the Croatian fell to a four-set defeat against Argentine Diego Schwartzman while British representation was ended with the unfortunate retirement of Kyle Edmund through injury during his encounter against Denis Shapovalov.
Sky Sports Tennis will have all the action from the US Open covered via our website www.skysports.com/tennis with our live blogs and updates throughout the fortnight as the Grand Slam year reaches its climax.
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We will also have coverage of the World Tour Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports.
