US Open | Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal cruise to the next round; Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna advance in respective events

Following some grueling games against Frances Tiafoe and Mikhail Youzhny in the previous two rounds, where Federer had to play five sets to emerge victorious eventually, his ‘title favourite’ mantle had shaken a bit. The Swiss ace had arrived at the Flushing Meadows at the back of rumors claiming that he was to withdraw from the Grand Slam with a back injury.

Although the top seed didn’t have a straightforward win against Argentina's Leonardo Mayer in the round of 32, he looked fully in control. Losing the first set, Nadal came back to the game 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-1 6-4 in a tiring three hours and 16 minutes match. He wasted 13 break points before eventually discouraging the World number 59. Nadal will face Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov next.

It was a good day in the office for Indians at the US open as both Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna progressed to the next round in their respective doubles matches. Paired with China’s Peng Shuai, The Indo-Chinese duo overcame the Slovakian team of Jana Cepelova and Magdalena Rybarikova in a convincing 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 win. They play the Romanian-Spanish duo of Sorana Cirstea and Sara Sorribes Tormo in the next round.

Partnered with Canada’s partner Gabriela Dabrowski, Rohan Bopanna was playing in the first round of the mixed doubles event as they defeated the English-Finnish duo of Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen 6-4, 4-6, 13-11. They will face Spanish-American duo of María Jose Martinez Sanchez and Nicholas Monroe next.