New York (AFP)

While waiting in the evening for the second round of Serena Williams, in search of the record of 24 Grand Slam titles from Margaret Court, her young compatriot Sofia Kenin, one of the other favorites of the US Open, easily passed the milestone on Thursday.

Kenin, 4th in the world, logically qualified for the 3rd round by disposing of the Canadian Leylah Fernandez (104th) 6-4, 6-3, after 1 h 21 passed without difficulty on the Arthur-Ashe court.

The No. 2 seed, who became the player to beat since Wednesday and the surprise elimination of Czech Karolina Pliskova (No. 1) by the amazing Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, was very solid, conceding no ball. break and converting two of the four she got, after a meeting still under control.

With the seven wins that got him out of the Australian Open in January, that makes him nine in a row in the Grand Slam.

She will try to add a tenth in the next round against the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 31st in the world.

Previously, a surprise came from court N.17 where Garbine Muguruza, 16th in the world and crowned at Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017, was eliminated by Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 7-5, 6-3.

"I made the decision to come to the US Open only two days before arriving. The idea was really to be able to play a bit in competition. I didn't feel ready at all," said the Spaniard. .

- Murray at night -

Which in no way detracts from the performance of Pironkova, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, now unranked in the WTA, as she attempts a return to professional tennis in New York more than three years after retiring to start a family.

Serena Williams also had a child, a girl named Olympia that she carried in her womb during the Australian Open in 2017, the last of 23 Majors on her huge record.

Since then, she has had four chances to join Margaret Court, the most successful player in Grand Slam history, but failed in the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2018 and 2019.

This quest therefore continues, after six months without tennis, for the 38-year-old American, who was reassured in the first round on Tuesday, qualifying in straight sets against her compatriot Kristie Ahn.

Her previous five games had all ended in three innings and Serena had spent twelve hours on the courts.

The 8th world will therefore have to confirm its rise in power against the Russian Margarita Gasparyan (117th).

Previously, on the Arthur-Ashe court, Dominic Thiem (3rd) faces Sumit Nagal (124th).

For men still, Roberto Bautista Agut, 11th in the world, needed 4 sets to get rid of the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (47th) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

On the French side, on the other hand, the end of the course for Richard Gasquet (51st), who fought to reverse the trend by winning the third round against the Australian Alex de Minaur (28th) finally winner 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 7-5.

Among the favorites, the 2019 finalist, Daniil Medvedev (5th), will later play against the Australian Christopher O'Connell (116th).

Finally, in the night session, the returning Murray (115th), author of a formidable match in straight sets Tuesday for his first Grand Slam victory since a success in the 1st round at Flushing Meadows in 2018, will have even more to face the Canadian nugget Felix Auger-Aliassime, 10 years old and 21st in the world.

© 2020 AFP