US Open tennis 2021 - Women’s round-up: Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza advance to fourth round
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ByEurosport
Updated 03/09/2021 at 22:04 GMT
Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza are safely through to the fourth round at the US Open, despite both dropping their first sets of the tournament at Flushing Meadows. Angelique Kerber, Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina are still to come on Friday's billing, while Naomi Osaka headlines the evening session on Arthur Ashe.
Simona Halep
Image credit: Getty Images
Simona Halep reached the fourth round of the US Open with a 7-6(11) 4-6 6-3 victory over 19th seed Elena Rybakina.
The Romanian needed two hours and 25 minutes to see off her spirited opponent, who had spurned four set points in a marathon first-set tie-break that Halep took with her seventh.
The 12th seed is slowly returning to form after missing the French Open and Wimbledon due to a calf injury, with the win over Rybakina her biggest on the comeback trail.
Halep is chasing a first title since September last year and has never gone beyond the last four at Flushing Meadows.
Ninth seed Garbine Muguruza won the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-4 3-6 6-2 win over three-time finalist Victoria Azarenka.
Like Halep, the Spaniard has won at Roland Garros and Wimbledon – but is yet to win a hard-court Slam.
In perhaps the second biggest match of the day, Elina Svitolina was the better of Daria Kasatkina, winning 6-4 6-2.
Petra Martic was sent home by Ajla Tomljanovic, as the Australian-Croatian was ruthless when presented with the chance of a break, winning 7-6(8-6) 6-4.
Barbora Krejcikova was the favourite going into her third round match with Kamilla Rakhimova, as the eighth-sdee won 6-4 6-2.
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