Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams were both tested on their way to the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Having survived an epic against Karen Khachanov in the third round, Nadal again dropped a set to Nikoloz Basilashvili but recovered to win in four, while Williams was pushed to a deciding set for the first time by Kaia Kanepi.
Defending women’s champion Sloane Stephens had a more straightforward passage against Elise Mertens, but Elina Svitolina became the eighth of the top-10 women to fall.
Picture of the day
It’s a game of inches…. left it all out there but wasn’t enough. You live and you learn ?? Crowd support was ??@usopen #nevergiveup #keepimproving #usopen #deMon pic.twitter.com/1jvI02C91x
— alex de minaur (@alexdeminaur) September 2, 2018
Stat of the day
Isner primed
“That’s definitely the most important thing going on right now in my life, more important than this tournament,” he said, after defeating Milos Raonic. “But as long as that baby is still in her belly, I’ll be here.”
Monday highlights
Both will be hot favourites in their matches, with Djokovic facing Portugal’s Joao Sousa before Federer takes on John Millman of Australia in the night session.
Maria Sharapova will put her unbeaten night session record to the test once more against Carla Suarez Navarro, while young guns Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka will face off.
