New York (AFP)

Sluggish but victorious, Serena Williams, in search of Margaret Court's record 24 Grand Slam titles, advanced to the 3rd round of the US Open, along with other favorites Sofia Kenin, Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem on Thursday. .

The rain interrupted the matches in the night session on open courts, but not Serena's on the Arthur-Ashe, with the roof closed.

She won her second round there against the Russian Margarita Gasparyan (117th) 6-2, 6-4.

Match that she could however have concluded more quickly than in 1 h 33 min.

After a well-conducted first set, she was still ahead in the second 3-1, then 4-2, but without really managing to fold the match against an opponent well within her reach.

"I held on and the important thing is to pass this round. I feel very good, I am going in the right direction", commented afterwards Serena who sees in this second victory in two sets a reason for encouragement. , his five previous matches having all ended in three sets.

The 8th world will have to raise her level of play against her compatriot Sloane Stephens (39th), former winner of the US Open in 2017.

Equally expeditious, Viktoria Azarenka, in great shape after her victory (after abandoning Naomi Osaka) at the Cincinnati tournament, did not detail in her duel between Belarusians with Aryna Sabalenka (11th), 6-1, 6- 3.

- Kenin, ongoing series -

Earlier, Sofia Kenin (4th) held her place without batting an eyelid against the Canadian Leylah Fernandez (104th) 6-4, 6-3.

The No. 2 seed, who has become the player to beat since Karolina Pliskova's surprise elimination by the astonishing Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, will try to add a tenth Grand Slam victory in a row - after her seven at the Open d Australia won in January - against Tunisian Ons Jabeur (31st).

The only surprise of the day was the elimination of Garbine Muguruza (16th) by the unclassified Tsvetana Pironkova 7-5, 6-3.

A great performance from the Bulgarian, a former semi-finalist at Wimbledon, who is attempting a return to professional tennis, more than three years after having retired to start a family.

For men, logic has always been respected.

Daniil Medvedev, finalist last year, qualified without problem, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, at the expense of Australian Christopher O'Connell (116th).

The Russian (5th) dominated in all areas of the game (32 winning shots) converting 4 of his 17 break points, an area where he still needs to do better.

He should not encounter more difficulty against the American JJ Wolf, 138th in the world.

Before him, Dominic Thiem (3rd) easily jumped the obstacle Sumit Nagal (124th) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

The Austrian, whose 27th birthday this Thursday, made himself this gift in 1 h 59 min.

- Murray, frozen -

The finalist of the last Australian Open, eliminated in the first round of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati last week, will be able to measure himself better in the third round against the experienced Croatian Marin Cilic (38th), winner of the US Open in 2014.

The Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (11th) needed 4 sets to defeat the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (47th) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

No miracle, however, for the returning Andy Murray: two days after his marathon victory against Yoshihito Nishioka, the Briton suffered the law of young Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, 13 years younger than him and winner 6-2, 6- 3, 6-4.

A one-sided match (52 winning shots against 9), during which Murray was unable to get even a break point.

On the French side, the record is pale blue, since only Alizé Cornet qualified, dismissing Ysaline Bonaventure (BEL) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

While Corentin Moutet will finish his match on Friday against Briton Daniel Evans (4-6, 6-3, 6-5), Richard Gasquet, Grégoire Barrère and Ugo Humbert took the door, respectively defeated by Australian Alex de Minaur, Russian Andrey Rublev and Italian Matteo Berrettini.

© 2020 AFP