US Open: Fourth seed Rybakina crashes out, Gauff in last 16

New York: Fourth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan crashed out of the US Open on Friday, losing a three-set third-round battle to Romania's Sorana Cirstea.

The Russian-born 2022 Wimbledon champion was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4 by Cirstea, who will now face Switzerland's Belinda Bencic in the last 16 on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sixth seed Coco Gauff kept her hopes of a maiden Grand Slam title alive on Friday, reaching the last 16 of the US Open after a battling three-set defeat of Belgium's Elise Mertens.

Gauff, tipped as one of the favourites for the title after tournament wins in Washington and Cincinnati last month, came from behind to down the 32nd seed 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. AFP