US Open tennis 2021 – Women’s round-up: Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza advance to fourth round

Simona Halep reached the fourth round of the US Open with a 7-6(11) 4-6 6-3 victory over 19th seed Elena Rybakina.

The Romanian needed two hours and 25 minutes to see off her spirited opponent, who had spurned four set points in a marathon first-set tie-break that Halep took with her seventh.

The 12th seed is slowly returning to form after missing the French Open and Wimbledon due to a calf injury, with the win over Rybakina her biggest on the comeback trail.

Halep is chasing a first title since September last year and has never gone beyond the last four at Flushing Meadows.

Ninth seed Garbine Muguruza won the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-4 3-6 6-2 win over three-time finalist Victoria Azarenka.

Like Halep, the Spaniard has won at Roland Garros and Wimbledon – but is yet to win a hard-court Slam.

In perhaps the second biggest match of the day, Elina Svitolina was the better of Daria Kasatkina, winning 6-4 6-2.

Petra Martic was sent home by Ajla Tomljanovic, as the Australian-Croatian was ruthless when presented with the chance of a break, winning 7-6(8-6) 6-4.

Barbora Krejcikova was the favourite going into her third round match with Kamilla Rakhimova, as the eighth-sdee won 6-4 6-2.