U.S. Open: Zhang/Kostyuk advance into women's doubles last 16

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Zhang Shuai (R) of China and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine celebrate their victory during the women's doubles match at the U.S. Open in New York, U.S., September 1, 2022. /CFP

Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai paired up with Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine to reach the women's doubles third round at the U.S. Open on Saturday.

Having defeated Nadiia Kichenok of Ukraine and Oksana Kalashnikova of Georgia 6-4, 6-4 in the first round, the 11th seeds Zhang and Kostyuk registered another comfortable win by dominating Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus and Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-2 in 56 minutes.

Zhang Shuai of China celebrates defeating Rebecca Marino of Canada in their women's singles third round match at the U.S. Open in New York, U.S., September 2, 2022. /CFP

Zhang, 33, has two Grand Slam doubles titles in hand and is the U.S. Open women's doubles defending champion.

She also reached the last 16 in the singles event at the U.S. Open for the first time after defeating Canadian Rebecca Marino in straight sets and teamed up with Croatian Mate Pavic to reach the mixed doubles second round on Friday.

Yuan Yue of China reacts after her loss to Jessica Pegula of the U.S. during their women's singles match at the U.S. Open in New York, U.S., September 3, 2022. /CFP

Meanwhile, China's Yuan Yue crashed out in the women's singles third round after losing to American Jessica Pegula 2-6, 7-6 (6), 0-6 on Saturday.

Yuan started the match with a 2-1 lead in the first set, but collapsed afterwards to lose five games in a row to eighth-seeded Pegula.

Having established a 4-1 advantage, Yuan almost saw the second set turned around again, but the 23-year-old held her nerve to drag the match into the deciding set through a tiebreak.

But she failed to keep Pegula from rolling in the third set, as the American player won six unanswered games to wrap it up.

Despite the defeat, Yuan achieved her best finish at a Grand Slam tournament.

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic acknowledges the crowd after defeating Garbine Muguruza of Spain during their singles match at the U.S. Open in New York, September 3, 2022. /CFP

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic hit 14 aces to down Spanish ninth seed Garbine Muguruza 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (12-10) in a thrilling third-round duel on Saturday.

Kvitova was in good form heading into Flushing Meadows after reaching the Cincinnati final. She reiterated her claim as one of the great fighters in tennis when she saved match point twice late in the third set to push the affair into a tie-break.

The two-time Wimbledon champion said that she was inspired by 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, whose emotional farewell to the U.S. Open with a gritty, third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia on Friday overshadowed the entire tournament.

Garbine Muguruza of Spain returns a ball to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their singles match at the U.S. Open in New York, September 3, 2022. /CFP

"I watched Serena last night and it was amazing how she was saving those match points, so I tried to do the same," said Kvitova.

Also, Muguruza said, "I'm proud of my fighting spirit. I have had some tough losses this year, but definitely this one makes me feel like my fighting spirit was there, my tennis was there."

(With input from agencies)

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