New York, Sep 2: Sloane Stephens, the 2017 champion now ranked 66th, pulled away for a 6-4 6-2 victory over Gauff, seeded 21st.
The match between two-time major finalist Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartzman was delayed for nearly a half-hour at 5-all in the first set while workers used air blowers to dry the playing surface.
The conditions didn’t matter at all to defending champion Naomi Osaka, who advanced earlier in the day when her second-round opponent, Olga Danilovic, pulled out of the tournament because of what she said was a viral illness – but not COVID-19.
Other past major title winners Simona Halep, Garbiñe Muguruza and Victoria Azarenka moved on more conventionally with straight-set wins. Muguruza next faces Azarenka.
Osaka hasn’t been beaten in a Grand Slam match since losing to Gauff at the 2020 Australian Open. And against Stephens, Gauff did briefly display the varied skills that helped her to that win and others on big stages, including twice against Venus Williams, and a run to the Roland Garros quarterfinals in June. (AP)
