US Open: Fognini shocks Nadal; Sania, Leander bow out

Fognini lost the first 2 sets 3-6, 4-6 but made a strong comeback to clinch the next two 4-6, 3-6 before claiming the decider at 4-6 that lasted 52 minutes to move to the fourth round.

After Bob and Mike Bryan’s shock exit in the first round, top seeded Indo-Brazilian pair in the Mixed Doubles category, Sania Mirza and Bruno Soares crashed out in the opening round 3-6, 3-6, their progress halted by unseeded Czech-Polish pair of Andrea Hlavackova-Lukasz Kubot.

USA’s Steve Johnson and Sam Querry came from a set behind to topple the much experienced pair of Leander Peas and Fernando Verdasco 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the second round of the Men’s Doubles event.

In another high octane match, Serena Williams dusted off early set-back to clinch her third round match. Fellow American, Bethanie Mattek-Sands played some fabulous tennis upfront to clinch the opening set 6-3 as the younger Williams received a rude jolt. She however came back strongly to post a 5-7 score line to take the second set, later followed it up with a unscathed 0-6 third set win to advance to the round of 16, setting up an all American fourth found match with Madison Keys.

Madison Keys, seeded 19th, beat higher seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to move to the next round.

Venus Williams rolled on to the fourth round rallying past Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-4. She will next face Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.

In the Men’s Singles event, Djoker overcame Andreas Seppi’s challenge in a 3 set game lasting 2 hours and 28 minutes. Novak won 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 and will face Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in round 4.

Bautista Agut was two sets down when his opponent, Belgian David Goffin retired, handing over the match to him.

Jo Wilfred Tsonga beat Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to set up a clash with fellow French, B Paire in the round of 16.