Nadal Battles Past Istomin, Clijsters Progresses In US Open

Defending champion Kim Clijsters progressed to the fourth round of the US Open with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic at Flushing Meadows on Friday (3rd September).

In other women's third round matches, Russia's Elena Dementieva had a comfortable straight sets victory over Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, while Australia's Sam Stosur beat Sara Errani of Italy 6-2, 6-3 and two-time winner Venus Williams easily saw of Luxembourg's Mandy Minella 6-2, 6-1.

In the men's second round, Great Britain's Andy Murray thrashed Jamaica's Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-3, 6-0, while world number one Rafael Nadal was given a stern test by Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin before coming through 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

Play got underway on time at the US Open on Friday despite Hurricane Earl bearing down on the East Coast. Russia's Elena Dementieva was first up at Arthur Ashe Stadium in her third round match against Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia. The 12th seeded Dementieva, who was runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2004, won all six of her break points on the way to a 7-5, 6-2 victory.

Defending champion and number two seed Kim Clijsters also booked a place in the fourth round with a straight sets win over Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.

Clijsters made a rusty start and trailed 3-0 but then reeled off 12 straight games to wrap up the match 6-3, 6-0.

Sam Stosur had never previously reached the third round of the US Open, but the Australian is in the form of her life - entering the tournament as the fifth seed.

The French Open runner-up continued her impressive season by overcoming Italy's Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 in the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

In the men's second round, Andy Murray had little trouble dispatching Jamaica's Dustin Brown. The fourth-seeded Scot, who was beaten in the 2008 final by Roger Federer, cruised to a 7-5, 6-3, 6-0 win.

Number 18 seed John Isner, the highest ranked American left in the men's draw, also progressed to the third round. Isner defeated Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, wrapping up the match with his 24th ace.

In the night session, Venus Williams easily eliminated 185th-ranked qualifier Mandy Minella of Luxembourg 6-2, 6-1 in the third round. Williams, seeded third, reached round four for the 12th time in 12 trips to Flushing Meadows.

The two-time champion's latest success saw her take 18 out of 21 points at the net and finish with a 29-5 edge in winners.

Rafael Nadal's encounter with Denis Istomin rounded off the action on day five. And Istomin, of Uzbekistan, proved no pushover for the world number one.

Having wrapped up the first set fairly comfortably, Nadal was taken to a second set tie-break. There, thrillingly, the Spaniard won six straight points, before going on to claim a 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory following a late break of serve in the third set. AP

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