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Agence France-Presse

World number one Rafael Nadal battled back from a set down to reach the US Open last 16 for a ninth time Saturday, edging closer to a potential semi-final duel with old rival Roger Federer.
Nadal, 31, saw off Argentine lucky loser Leonardo Mayer 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, taking his record over the world number 59 from Buenos Aires to 4-0.
He will face Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov, against whom he is 6-2, for a place in the quarter-finals.
If he gets through that, then a first-ever showdown in New York against Federer would move a little nearer, although the Swiss legend has to defeat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in his third-round clash.
Nadal had also dropped the first set of his second-round match against Japan’s Taro Daniel before winning in four.
Saturday was almost a carbon copy with the 15-time major winner unable to convert any of six points in the opener.
But the match turned in the 10-minute seventh game of the second set when, on his 14th break point of the encounter, he finally smashed his way through.
There was no way back for Mayer, who ended the match with 52 unforced errors and his record against top 10 opponents at 1-25.
“It was a long day,” said Nadal who brought the curtain down on the day session at 8.40 p.m. and under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof.
“It was tough. I had 14 break points – that’s not a good figure. But I was there mentally and fought a lot at the right moments.”
‘Where’s Wozniacki?’ – claws out at US Open as Maria Sharapova hits back at rival
Five-time champion Federer faces Lopez boasting a 12-0 record over the 31st seed, who is playing in a 16th straight US Open and 63rd successive grand slam.
Federer has struggled so far, needing back-to-back five-setters to defeat Frances Tiafoe and Mikhail Youzhny.
Germany’s Phillip Kohlschreiber eliminated Australia’s John Millman 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 and will face either Federer or Lopez.
Kohlschreiber has a 0-11 record against Federer.
“I hope Feli wins,” smiled the 33-year-old German.
Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem defeated France’s Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to make the last 16 for the third time in four years.
Thiem next faces 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who put out Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
Russia’s Andrey Rublev became the second teenager in the last 16 when he beat Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Rublev, just 19, faces Belgian ninth seed David Goffin who progressed when 2016 semi-finalist Gael Monfils retired with a right knee injury.
Maria Sharapova savours another ‘special day’ as US Open fairy tale continues while Zverev, Kyrgios crash out
Women’s top seed Karolina Pliskova saved a match point to defeat China’s Zhang Shuai, hanging on to her world number one spot in the process.
Top seed Pliskova, the runner-up in 2016, triumphed 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 but was forced to save a match point in the 10th game of the second set and recover from a break down in the decider.
“I was match point down and I thought I haven’t tried many forehand winners down the line. That’s what I did. I may not have got another chance,” said the 25-year-old, who will face American Jennifer Brady for a place in the quarter-finals.
Had she lost on Saturday, Pliskova would also have been guaranteed to lose her world number one ranking to either Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza or Elina Svitolina.
Ukraine fourth seed Svitolina stayed in contention for the top ranking with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Shelby Rogers of the United States.
Russia’s Darya Kasatkina reached the last 16 of a major for the first time by seeing off French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, the 12th seed, 6-3, 6-2.
Roger Federer escapes Frances Tiafoe in five-set US Open thriller as rain brings chaos to schedule
Meanwhile, controversial Italian Fabio Fognini was kicked out of the US Open for making foul-mouthed comments to female umpire Louise Engzell during his first round loss to Stefano Travaglia.
Fognini and compatriot Simone Bolelli had reached the third round of the men’s doubles but tournament organisers have now axed him from the event.
Fognini, the world number 26, was also fined $24,000.


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US Open (tennis)

Rafa Nadal battles into US Open last 16 and edges closer to Roger Federer duel

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return during his win against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina. Photo: Xinhua

(170903) -- NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Leonardo Mayer of of Agentina reacts during the men's singles third round match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the 2017 US Open in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2017. Nadal won 3-1. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 02: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates defeating Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round Men's Singles match on Day Six of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

(170903) -- NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return during the men's singles third round match against Leonardo Mayer of of Agentina at the 2017 US Open in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2017. Nadal won 3-1. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Sport

Tennis

Spaniard edges past Argentine lucky loser Leonardo Mayer in four sets


Rafa Nadal battles into US Open last 16 and edges closer to Roger Federer duel

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Spaniard edges past Argentine lucky loser Leonardo Mayer in four sets

Spaniard edges past Argentine lucky loser Leonardo Mayer in four sets