Australian wildcard’s unlikely US Open run comes to end on day of upsets

Japan's former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Saturday, defeating Belgian player Elise Mertens 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. The 13th seed and two-time champion overcame a set down in the third to secure her place among the last 16 for the second consecutive year. Osaka expressed her disbelief at her victory, crediting her heart-on-the-court performance.

After breaking in the first set and taking the second, Mertens broke back to tie the score at 2-2. However, Osaka secured another break to take a 5-3 lead in the set. In the final set, she broke first, and after Mertens made a double fault, Osaka sealed the win with a crucial break, ending the match in 2 hours and 38 minutes. Osaka acknowledged the increasing difficulty of each opponent and emphasized her determination to progress further in the tournament. She made 39 winners compared to Mertens' 22, but also committed 41 unforced errors.