US Open 2017: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in second-round action

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal resume their US Open campaign on Thursday while Karolina Pliskova's bid for a first Grand Slam title also continues.

After Alexander Zverev became the highest profile casualty with defeat to Borna Coric on Wednesday, attention shifts to the loaded top half of the draw where Federer and Nadal are back in action bidding to reach the last 32 after very different starts to their campaign.

Federer did little to dispel the notion that a back injury could hamper his path to a 20th Grand Slam title in needing five-sets to see off American teenager Frances Tiafoe, but Mikhail Youzhny is unlikely to offer as mobile a threat.

The big-hitting Russian has lost all 16 meetings between the pair and offers the Swiss the chance to continue easing his way into the tournament as he targets a sixth US Open title but a first since 2008.

Two-time champion Nadal battled through a tough first set before eventually seeing off Dusan Lajovic in straight sets and he takes on Japan's Taro Daniel in the final match of the night under the floodlights on Arthur Ashe.

Top seed and last year's runner-up Pliskova is second up on the main court, she meets American Nicole Gibbs after fourth seed Elina Svitolina starts the day's action against Evgeniya Rodina.

On Louis Armstrong, French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko starts the day against Sorana Cristea while Americans will also take centre stage with Madison Keys taking on Tatjana Maria and Taylor Fritz up against sixth seed Dominic Thiem.

One to Watch

Men - Grigor Dimitrov meets one of Russia's talented youngsters in the shape of NextGen star Andrey Rublev. Dimitrov is a contender to claim his first Grand Slam title but will have to overcome 19-year-old world No 53 Rublev who is capable of causing a shock.

Women - Coco Vandeweghe has reached the semi-final in each of the last two years at Flushing Meadows and could be the home fans' best hope of an American title winner. Her grandfather played basketball for the New York Knicks so in the first match of the evening session, she will have a raucous Arthur Ashe crowd behind her when she takes on Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.

Shock on the Cards

Men - Two games in two days will do nothing for a fragile Juan Martin del Potro's hopes of a second US title. Defeat would not be a surprise, but he should be too strong for Adrian Menendez-Maceiras. That leaves our tip for a surprise Bjorn Fratangelo to beat Adrian Mannarino.

Women - Jennifer Brady has the tools to take out Czech seed Barbora Strycova while and will have the added bonus of home support but Agnieska Radwanska has never been beyond the fourth round in NYC and Yulia Putintseva is out tip to dump out another seed.

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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