Top ranks Sinner, Swiatek survive US Open scares in third round as Osaka-Gauff showdown looms

JANNIK SINNER and Iga Swiatek proved they are only human at the US Open on Saturday and showed that even the best players in the world have to figure things out on the fly sometimes when pure talent is not enough.

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Wimbledon champion Swiatek embodied the day’s theme of triumph through adversity, clawing her way back from 5-1 down in the opening set against Anna Kalinskaya before grinding out a 7-6(2), 6-4 victory.

"I’m happy that I came back and kept... figuring out and problem-solving," Swiatek said. "For sure, it wasn’t an easy match."

The Pole was far from her sharpest in a scrappy, error-strewn contest - nine breaks and 67 unforced errors by both players combined painted the picture of a match won through sheer bloody-mindedness rather than sublime shot-making.

Yet Swiatek steadied herself at the key moments, saving four set points in the first set and breaking late in the second to notch her 20th major match win of the season and draw level with defending champion and world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Her reward is a last-16 meeting with 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.