Andreescu Stays Perfect At US Open, Pliskova Survives Anisimova Upset Bid; Stephens-Kerber Fri.

The favorites kept rolling in the US Open women’s draw. Top seed Ash Barty played another tight second set but prevailed, this time topping teen Clara Tauson 6-1, 7-5.

“Today was tricky I think to navigate through that second set and just trust myself and hit out,” said Barty. “But all in all happy to be moving through to the third round with some work to do but we are pleased to be able to go through and get another opportunity.”

The 18-year-old Tauson got broken in a bruising 24-point first service game, but rebounded nicely in the second to push the Wimbledon champion.

‘”A couple of times I was disappointed with service games today after when I was serving for the match and early on in the second set, I just played two pretty poor games,” added Barty. “Being able to respond straightaway was a big part of that match, just refocusing and narrowing my focus and remembering what I needed to do to win the match as opposed to getting flat and passive where I was letting her control a little bit too much.”

Barty, who has never made the quarterfinals at the US Open, will now face American Shelby Rogers on Saturday.

Keeping pace in the race was Iga Swiatek. The Pol picked herself up from a set and 2-0 down to overcome Fiona Ferro 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-0 taking the final set in just 22 minutes.

“It was a tough match,” Swiatek said. “I think I didn’t start it properly, because I felt like I couldn’t properly feel my legs. But it’s not the first time, so I’m trying to work on that.

“In second set, I loosened up a little bit, kind of changed tactics. It was a similar match, in my mind, it was a similar match in Rome against Krejcikova. It was a similar situation. And it’s always tough for me to use these kind of solutions when I’m just trying to push that ball and just give it back, because I usually want to, I don’t know, lead or attack or just build the rally.

“This time I felt like I’m pretty tight, so it’s the only chance for me to win points.”

Swiatek will next meet Anett Kontaveit who has kept rolling after her Cleveland title.

Gold medalist Belinda Bencic crushed Martina Trevisan 6-3, 6-1.

In the evening, Bianca Andreescu improved to 9-0 with a win over diminutive Lauren Davis 6-4, 6-4.

“I’m feeling very good out there,” Andreescu said. “I think as the matches are progressing, I’m starting to feel my tennis more and more. I haven’t had easy matches. Even today I know was straight sets, but the games were very tight.

“What I’m very happy about mostly is my serving because I’ve been working a lot on that. Also my movement on the court, I’ve been putting a lot of work in the gym and it’s really paying off.”

And former finalist Karolina Pliskova held off a good fight from Amanda Anismova saving a match point in a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(7). Anisimova was up 5-2 in the final set breaker. Pliskova finished with 24 aces.

A huge third round line-up awaits tomorrow with Naomi Osaka-Leylah Fernandez, Aryna Sabalenka-Danielle Collins, Victoria Azarenka-Garbine Muguruza and in a battle of former champions Angelique Kerber will try to end a 5-match losing streak to Sloane Stephens. Kerber won his delayed second round match on Wednesday.