The Australian Open winner, who will replace Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings when they are updated after the tournament, recovered from a slow start and struck 20 winners as she gradually broke down Zheng’s resistance.

The big-hitting Shelton claimed his first career win over Alcaraz, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7), ending the Spaniard's hopes of retaining his title in his first tournament back after a four-month injury absence.

Sabalenka triumphed 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 7-6 (10/7) over the 21-year-old Wimbledon champion, who went toe-to-toe with the world number one on Arthur Ashe Stadium -- where men's defending champion Carlos Alcaraz faced eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton in the last match of the night.

It was one more gritty win for Zheng, the Paris Olympics gold medallist and a former world number four now ranked 121st after struggling in the wake of elbow surgery last year.

"I played my game," said Alcaraz, who unleashed 33 winners as he moved fluidly around the court, thwarting Paul at every turn in the two-hour 20-minute match.

Sabalenka rallied from 3-1 down in the second set for a 6-4, 6-3 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where men's defending champion Carlos Alcaraz took on 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul in search of a quarter-final berth.

World number two Elena Rybakina avenged her French Open defeat to Yuliia Starodubtseva on Sunday, beating the unseeded Ukrainian 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 to reach the US Open last 16.

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka survived another erratic outing, beating Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on Sunday to reach the US Open fourth round.

Zheng Qinwen won the last seven games to stun Madison Keys and reach the US Open last 16 in a day of upsets that dented American hopes on Saturday at Flushing Meadows.

Former top-five player Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, who has struggled in recent years, upset 18th-seeded Jiri Lehecka Saturday to reach the US Open fourth round for the first time.

Serena and Venus Williams electrified Arthur Ashe Stadium but fell to Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint in three thrilling sets in their return to the US Open women's doubles on Friday.

Top seed Alexander Zverev was put through the late-night ringer once more before booking his place in the third round of the US Open on Friday.

Gauff advanced to a meeting with another Spaniard, Cristina Bucsa, after powering past Badosa 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in just under two hours.

The 13th seed has spent years taming her own tendency toward self-recrimination, and showed the best evidence of her new career outlook as she reclaimed her composure with a bathroom break before the third set at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Jessica Pegula is all in favor of bringing more fans into tennis, but the world number three said Wednesday it's important to keep the focus on the game.

Alcaraz will face China's Wu Yibing in the third round

World number three Jessica Pegula and former champion Daniil Medvedev raced into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday with straight-sets victories.

Zverev arrived in New York as a major champion for the first time after his French Open triumph in June

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz didn't miss a beat as he returned from a four-month injury absence with a straight-sets first-round victory in the US Open on Monday.

Wawrinka is a three-time Grand Slam champion who will retire after 2026