New York (AFP)

Young Canadian and American women's tennis sensation Bianca Andreescu and Taylor Townsend feasted the public on Saturday at the US Open by qualifying for the first time in the Round of 16 Grand Slam.

The program continued with the arrival on the Arthur-Ashe court of Rafael Nadal, opposed to Korean Hyeon Chung, followed at the beginning of the night session by defending champion Naomi Osaka against another darling of the American public Coco Gauff (140th) . Gael Monfils (13th) is expected to open his night session on the Louis Armstrong court against rising Canadian Denis Shapovalov (33rd).

Andreescu, 15th in the world at 19, dominated the former N.1 Caroline Wozniacki (19th) 6-4, 6-4.

"Everything I've learned in the last two years is taking shape," said the Canadian.

Still 178th in the world after the 2018 season, Andreescu exploded at the highest level this year including a title in Toronto where she benefited from the retirement of Serena Williams in the final.

- Absent at Wimbledon -

Missing at Wimbledon because of an injury, she was eliminated in the second round in Australia and Roland Garros where she played for the first time large paintings.

Of Romanian origin, Andreescu said to be modeled the world No.4 Simona Halep who was eliminated in the second round this year at Flushing Meadows by Taylor Townsend ... his next opponent.

The American, 116th World, continues her dream career at the US Open, after eliminating Saturday's Romanian Sorana Cirstea (106th) 7-5, 6-2.

She is the last player in qualifying still in contention in the women's draw at Flushing Meadows. Not yet as advanced in the WTA rankings or track record as his next opponent, Townsend has not less seduced the public by his attacking game and his personality.

"I told myself by coming to the US Open: + I'm here, it will be necessary to count with me + And now, that we got there (at the 8th), we will go to the end", launched the 23-year-old player to the delighted public.

Townsend had created the sensation of the second round by saving a match point against world No.4 Simona Halep, before eliminating it.

"I did not know that so many people had my phone number!", She commented Saturday about this first win against a Top 10 player.

Against Cirstea, she continued in the tactics adopted against Halep and that is to increase the rises to the net. She went 105 times to win 63 points against the Romanian, including 4 in the decisive tiebreak, and she returned 75 times against Cirstea to win 45 points.

"It's hard to keep doing it because I get a lot done, but I have to go on ... I'm still here!" She commented.

© 2019 AFP