Defending champions Andy Murray and Serena Williams as well as Novak Djokovic are the Sunday special acts at the US Open while former title winner Lleyton Hewitt looks to continue his dream run.
Third seed Murray, who is also the Olympic and Wimbledon champion, disposed of Leonardo Mayer in the second round and now faces another Mayer — Germany’s Florian Mayer — for a place in the fourth round.
Murray has a 2-0 career lead over the 29-year-old German, winning their most recent meeting in two tiebreak sets on the Madrid clay earlier this year.
Mayer, the world number 47, has twice been a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2004 and 2012 but has never got beyond the third round in New York.
World No.1 Williams will have the chance to avenge her exit from the Australian Open when she faces compatriot Sloane Stephens for a quarter-final spot.
Williams’ relationship with Stephens was strained after her younger rival upset the 16-time Grand Slam champion at Melbourne.
“It’s going to be tough,” Williams said. “Sloane is playing so well. I’m always so happy for her. She’s doing great. I’m really proud of Sloane. It’s going to be a really good match.”
American 15th seed Stephens faces the superstar she accused of disrespectful intimidation tactics and mind games in Australia.
“It’ll be epic and something a lot of people will be looking forward to,” Stephens said. “I’m excited about it.”
Williams, who at 31 could become the oldest US Open women’s winner, and Stephens have not played since the 20-year-old beat the four-time US Open champion in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
Stephens was friendly with Williams a year ago at New York but the relationship soured after Williams beat her in a Brisbane quarter-final 6-4, 6-3 and then suffered the shock Grand Slam defeat.
Top seed in the men’s event, Novak Djokovic, the 2011 champion, takes on unseeded Portuguese player Joao Sousa.
Tommy Haas, the German 12th seed and, at 35, the oldest man in the tournament, tackles Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny.
A victory could pit Haas against Hewitt, the 2001 champion, in the fourth round.
The Australian stunned sixth seed and 2009 champion Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round for his first win over a top 10 player in New York since his victory over Pete Sampras in the 2001 final.
