US Open: China’s Zheng Qinwen advances, Wang Yafan’s run ends, Andy Murray out but wins for Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka

China’s Zheng Qinwen advanced to the third round of the women’s draw at the US Open after overcoming Kaia Kanepi of Estonia. The 20-year-old Zheng, the world No 23, won 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, sending her into a meeting with Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti. But luck ran out for her compatriot Wang Yafan. Having beaten seventh seed Caroline Garcia of France in the first round, she lost to Katie Boulter of Britain 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. Grand slam winners Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova booked their places in the third round, while in the men’s tournament Carlos Alcaraz edged closer to a rematch with Italy’s Jannik Sinner. Defending champion Alcaraz eased into a last 32 meeting with Britain’s Dan Evans after dispatching South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 in 2 hours 28 minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt. It means Alcaraz is two wins away from a potential quarter-final collision with Italian sixth seed Sinner, who continued his serene progress through the draw on Thursday with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of compatriot Lorenzo Sonego. Last year, Alcaraz and Sinner produced an epic five-set quarter-final classic that was not completed until 2.50am local time – the latest finish in US Open history. After their performances on Thursday, few would bet against a repeat of last year’s heavyweight slugfest in this year’s final eight. “I think I played a great match from the beginning to the last ball,” Alcaraz said after his defeat of Harris. “To be able to win in straight sets is really important to me in the first rounds,” added Alcaraz, who is bidding to become the first man to defend the US Open since 2008, when Roger Federer lifted the trophy for a fifth straight year. The 22-year-old Sinner meanwhile looks to be firing on all cylinders on the evidence of his second-round performance. The Italian conceded just 10 points on serve without giving Sonego a single break point throughout their two hour, five minute encounter. Sinner will play 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the third round on Saturday. Wawrinka, 38, rolled back the years to eliminate Argentine No 30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2. Germany’s 12th seed Alexander Zverev is also potentially lurking in Sinner’s path before a quarter-final with Alcaraz. Zverev booked his place in the third round with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of compatriot Daniel Altmaier. Elsewhere on Thursday, Britain’s 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray slumped to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov. Former world No 3 Dimitrov, who saved three match points in the opening round, meets 2020 runner-up Zverev in the last 32. “It’s obviously disappointing, to not play how you would like,” said Murray, who hit 45 unforced errors and just 16 winners. While Murray tumbled out, fellow Britons Jack Draper advanced to the third round in contrasting fashion to his second round matches. Draper upset Polish 17th seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 to set up a third round meeting with American wild card Michael Mmoh, who defeated John Isner 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 in what was the final game of the big-serving veteran’s career. But another Briton, Jodie Burrage, saw her tournament come to an end after a one-sided defeat to second seed Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion. Sabalenka took just 1 hour 14 minutes to win 6-3, 6-2. Sabalenka, 25, has reached the semi-finals or better at the past four grand slams and can replace Iga Swiatek as world No 1 if she matches the Pole’s result in New York. “I’m not really focused on that, but it’s going to mean a lot to me,” Sabalenka said. “It’s one of my goals, one of my dreams and I’ll do my best to reach my dream.” Another of 2023’s grand slam winners, Wimbledon champion Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, could meet Sabalenka in the semi-finals. Vondrousova, who made history by becoming the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon in July, had too much firepower for Italy’s Martina Trevisan, winning 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour 20 minutes. The ninth seed said afterwards she is adjusting to being the hunted rather than the hunter in the wake of her unexpected Wimbledon triumph. “It’s a tough position,” Vondrousova said. “I feel like everybody wants to beat me. I’m just happy to be here and play good tennis.” Meanwhile Tunisia’s fifth seed Ons Jabeur, runner-up at last year’s US Open final and beaten by Vondrousova in the Wimbledon final in July, was put through the grinder in a 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 defeat of Czech teenager Linda Noskova.