US Open nightcap: Sabalenka, Ruud, Mertens mount comebacks ...
An extended Day 5 at Flushing Meadows officially wrapped at 2:35 a.m. Saturday.
The two-time Australian Open champion now gets the woman she partnered here to the 2019 doubles crown, Elise Mertens, in the round of 16.
The Belgian was two points from bowing out to Madison Keys at 4-5, 30-30 in the second set, before battling past the home hopeful, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4, in two hours and 50 minutes. Had Keys prevailed, it would have set up a rematch of last year’s semifinal that Sabalenka won in dramatic comeback fashion.
Earlier, 2022 men’s runner-up Casper Ruud dug in to deny Jerry Shang a fourth-round place. The No. 8 seed turned the tide to move forward, 6-7 (1), 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-1. In the final three sets, Ruud staved off all seven break points he faced in setting a clash with top-ranked American Taylor Fritz. The No. 12 seed rolled over Francisco Comesana, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
