Djokovic to continue 25th Slam bid against Popyrin

Novak Djokovic continues his bid for a grounds 25th Grand Slam singles title erstwhile he faces Australia's Alexei Popyrin successful nan 3rd information astatine nan US Open connected Friday.

The Serb, 37, who is tied pinch Margaret Court connected 24 awesome singles titles, plays nan 28th seed successful nan evening convention astatine 00:00 BST connected Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Defending champion Djokovic and Popyrin are gathering for nan 3rd clip astatine Grand Slams this year, pinch nan Serb winning successful 4 sets astatine nan Australian Open and Wimbledon.

"I'm happy to triumph 4 sets different time. Don't get maine wrong. But he keeps connected getting person and closer, knocking connected that door," said Djokovic.

"He's been playing immoderate awesome tennis, truthful nary logic for him not to judge that he tin put up a awesome performance, and he's going to spell for nan win. I cognize that.

"But I cognize what to expect arsenic well, I'm going to do my homework and spot what needs to beryllium done."

Djokovic reached nan 3rd information aft compatriot Laslo Djere retired wounded successful their second-round tie, while Popyrin, 25, hit Spain's Pedro Martinez successful consecutive sets.

The Serb is simply a four-time victor astatine Flushing Meadows while Popyrin has not made it past nan 3rd information connected nan 2 erstwhile occasions he's reached it.

In nan women's draw, American 3rd seed Coco Gauff continues nan defence of her title against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina connected Arthur Ashe Court from 17:00 BST.

Gauff, 20, hit Germany's Tatjana Maria successful consecutive sets to group up nan gathering pinch 27th seed Svitolina, who breezed past compatriot Anhelina Kalinina 6-1 6-2.

Gauff's triumph was her ninth consecutive triumph astatine nan US Open but faces a subordinate successful bully shape successful erstwhile world number 3 Svitolina, who did not driblet service erstwhile successful triumph against Kalinina.

The necktie marks nan 5th gathering betwixt nan pair, pinch 2 wins apiece.

Last connected Arthur Ashe Court Belarusian 2nd seed Aryna Sabalenka takes connected Russian 29th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka will beryllium hoping she tin spell 1 amended aft finishing arsenic runner-up successful New York past year, while Alexandrova is aiming to scope nan 4th information astatine Flushing Meadows for nan first time.

Closing nan time convention connected Arthur Ashe Court is an all-American necktie betwixt men's 13th seed Ben Shelton and 20th seed Frances Tiafoe.

The mouth-watering title is simply a rematch of their quarter-final successful New York past year, which Shelton won successful 4 sets.

Unseeded Shelton, who astatine 21 is 5 years younger than friend and mentor Tiafoe, was nan underdog connected that juncture but goes into Friday's necktie arsenic nan favourite.

"I deliberation everything that comes successful your career, each nan highs and lows, only sets you up for amended moments ahead," said Tiafoe.

"I'm ace excited for nan match, and immoderate opportunity to do it again."

Other third-round ties spot German 4th seed Alexander Zverev look Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev, who is simply a four-time quarter-finalist astatine Flushing Meadows, return connected Czech 32nd seed Jiri Lehecka.

On nan women's broadside of nan tie Chinese seventh seed Qinwen Zheng plays Germany's Jule Niemeier and American 14th seed Madison Keys competes against Belgian 33rd seed Elise Mertens.