Serena Williams fought back from a set down against Sloane Stephens to book her spot in the last-16.
Williams, the third seed, has not been eliminated before the fourth round since a third-round loss on her debut in 1998 and maintained that record with a 2-6 6-2 6-2 win on Arthur Ashe.
For a while, it looked as if it would be a routine victory for Stephens.
Willaims wasn’t at the races in the early exchanges but with the match in her hands, the 2017 champion let Williams back into it as her level dipped and Stephens was punished.
‘It was intense, I have to say,’ said Williams. ‘We always have some really incredible matches and it brings out the best in my fitness when I play Sloane.
‘She’s obviously a great player, she’s won on this court, she’s had every big win you can think of.
‘In that first set I don’t think she made any errors, honestly. She was playing so clean and I just said I don’t want to lose in straight sets.
‘I was like, “She’s playing so good oh my God”, and I said, “Okay Serena, get a game, get a game”. Next thing I know, I won the second set and I was like, “Okay great”.’
Maria Sakkari is up next for the 23-time Grand Slam champion – who remains in hot pursuit of Margaret Court’s all-time majors record. Sakkari beat the six-time US Open winner just over a week ago at the Western & Southern Open.
Stephens drew first blood.
Williams mistimed a forehand and it skewed wide, handing the 26th seed a break in the third game of the opening set.
She weathered the storm in her next service game, saving two break points, but failed to strike back in the sixth game as Stephens played some clutch tennis at 15-40 to surivive.
With the opportunity gone, and errors continuing to fly off with Williams racquet, Stephens broke again and served out the set to love.
Williams came under pressure again in the fifth game of the second set but held firm and was rewarded a game later with her first break of the match.
Stephens’ level and intensity had notably dropped and Williams, who had become far more resolute, capitalised as she broke a second time before levelling.
Williams kept the pressure up in the third and broke at the fourth time of asking to move 3-1 up in the decider.
Another break came for the third seed and Williams will now face Sakkari, who beat talented young American Amanda Anisimova in straight sets earlier, in the next round.
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