Live Coverage: US Open - Day Five - Serena Williams vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of day five of the US Open from Flushing Meadows.

Has everyone recovered from day four? It was a rollercoaster ride, wasn't it?! Fortunately, from a British perspective at least, we still have interest in both the men's and women's draw as we enter round three, but both Andy Murray and Johanna Konta will be enjoy welcome days off today. Don't worry, though, there are still plenty of big hitters in town.

From around 6pm, BST, we will be bringing you game-by-game updates of the match between Belinda Bencic and Venus Williams, before men's world number one Novak Djokovic takes to court against Andreas Seppi. From midnight, we have Serena Williams against American compatriot Bethanie Mattek-Sands before Rafael Nadal and Fabio Fognini finish things off for the day. That's not bad at all really, is it?

A couple of matches are already getting started at Flushing Meadows. Over on Arthur Ashe, Elina Svitolina and Ekaterina Makarova are going head to head in what should be a competitive affair while on Louis Armstrong, Marin Cilic, the defending champion in the men's draw, is taking on Mikhail Kukushkin, the conqueror of Grigor Dimitrov. We'll keep you up-to-date with those two tussles as they progress.

As those matches get up to speed, let's take a look back at what happened on Thursday, starting with Andy Murray. For the best part of two hours, the world number three just wasn't at the races. He had predicted that opponent Adrian Mannarino would be "tricky" but I doubt he expected the Frenchman to pose him that much trouble. Murray found a way to fight back in style, but you have to wonder how much that match has taken out of him, especially given the head cold that is currently plaguing him.

It won't get any easier for Murray either. The Scot lost his one and only previous encounter with third-round foe Thomaz Bellucci, and even if he progress further, matches with Kevin Anderson and Stanislas Wawrinka are big possibilities. We shouldn't look too far ahead but if Murray is to win a second title in New York, all of his opponents would have been ranked inside the top 37 in the world. Harsh draw.

Since his win over Mannarino, Murray has been speaking about the talent of Bellucci and guess what? He's expecting a tough match. You can read more here.

Murray wasn't the only British success story yesterday. In the women's draw, Johanna Konta, ranked at number 97 in the world before this tournament, outlasted ninth seed and Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza in what became the longest ever women's match at Flushing Meadows, with Konta finally sealing victory after three hours and 23 minutes. On a day where the tournament was further blighted by withdrawals due to the extreme heat, the 24-year-old showed an incredible level of fitness in a match that suggested that she can match anyone in the women's draw.

That said, the level of performance would have only increased expectations ahead of her third-match match with Andrea Petkovic. Konta will feel as though she can compete with the top players now but it will be such a tough ask after spending so much time on court. Don't forget that she played three qualifying matches to qualify for the US Open too. Let's stay positive though. She has now won 15 successive matches, stretching all the way back to the Wimbledon first round.

Yesterday, Laura Robson and Kirsten Flipkens pulled off a major upset against Madison Keys and Lisa Raymond in the doubles, but it's not going so well today. The pair are about to lose the first set to fifth seeds Caroline Garcia and Katarina Srebotnik.

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Roger Federer has insisted that there is "no excuse" for the amount of withdrawals at this year's tournament, but Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka begs to differ. The Roland Garros winner has sympathy for the likes of Jack Sock and Denis Istomin, who couldn't complete their matches on Thursday.

It's a long way back for Robson and Flipkens now. They have fallen a set and a break behind to Garcia and Srebotnik out on Court 7.

Mikhail Kukushkin appears to be full of confidence after his win over Grigor Dimitrov. The Kazakh hitter has hit back from a break behind to level the first set with Marin Cilic at five games apiece. Over on Arthur Ashe, Ekaterina Makarova is serving for the first set against Elina Svitolina.

Good news on the weather front today. As long as the rain stays away...

Overcast, warm (but not hot), humid and windy at the US Open today. pic.twitter.com/VriCrzbFcm — DavidLaw (@DavidLawTennis) September 4, 2015

Last night saw Lleyton Hewitt bow out of the men's singles draw for the final time after losing in a five-set thriller to compatriot Bernard Tomic. The 2001 champion is retiring from the sport in January and he has admitted that the atmosphere created last night was one of the best that he has experienced in New York.

SET! She made a meal of the final game but Ekaterina Makarova has finally moved a set ahead of Elina Svitolina. The 13th seed reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows last year.

SET! Now then, do we have a shock on our hands? Mikhail Kukushkin has taken a one-set lead against defending champion Marin Cilic after winning a tie-break 7-5.

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Makarova has moved a break ahead against Svitolina, but it's far from one-way traffic. She has had to save five break points in her last two service games. The Russian leads 6-3 2-0 but there could still be plenty left in that one.

RESULT! We have our first player through to the fourth round, and it's Kristina Mladenovic. The French representative has defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-2 6-3 to reach her the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time!

Roger Federer believes that he always starts well at the US Open. Talk about stating the obvious, Roger! The five-time winner has dropped just nine games on the way to the last 32.

RESULT! It's not to be for Laura Robson and Kirsten Flipkens as they bow out of the women's doubles. You can read more here.

We are yet to mention this match thus far but out on Court 17, Benoit Paire is a set and a break to the good against Tommy Robredo. The Frenchman looks like he has had no issues with building off his career-best win against Kei Nishikori in the first round.

Let's head back to the Louis Armstrong Stadium and see how Cilic is getting on. The defending champion looks to be in danger here as the Croatian is now a set and a break down. Kukushkin is now 4-2 up in the second and will serve to extend his lead. Do we have another upset on the cards? Or will Cilic respond?

The third-round match between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Sergiy Stakhovsky has just got underway on Grandstand. Tsonga has had a comfortable campaign so far having progressed to this position following back-to-back straight-set wins. Stakhovsky on the other hand, has been pushed to four sets in his opening games.

We told you that Makarova and Svitolina still had plenty left in it. Makarova was 2-0 in the second set and seemingly coasting to victory, but Svitolina has turned things around. The Ukrainian is 4-3 now as she looks to extend the match into a decider.

The trainer is out for Makarova too. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to having treatment on an ankle injury.

Trainer out for Makarova. Lost her break lead in the 2nd 3/4 in the 2nd, won the 1st 6/3 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/NE9CeceEam — Tennis Panorama News (@TennisNewsTPN) September 4, 2015

SET! We have an upset alert on Court 17. Paire has taken the second set against Robredo 6-1. It wouldn't be the biggest of shocks, but Robredo, the 27th seed, was the favourite to win that match. However, to do so, he must go the distance.

It's all happening on the show courts. Cilic has just saved two set points against Kukushkin to avoid going 2-0 down, while Makarova has saved one against Svitolina. It's all getting nervy out there!

SET! Champions have to be made of stern stuff. Cilic has needed to be against Kukushkin and moments after saving two set points, he has dominated the resulting tie-break to level the match at a set apiece. You would certainly have to back him from here.

Back on Arthur Ashe and Makarova has broken Svitolina's serve. The 13th seed will now serve for a place in the next round. Fingers crossed she does because some of us are looking forward to Belinda Bencic against Venus Williams! But we show no favouritism here at Sports Mole...(Come on, Makarova)

SET! Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hasn't been spoken about as a potential winner thus far, despite his section of the draw opening up, but he's on his way to a third-round win after taking the first set 6-3 against Sergey Stakhovsky. Either Tsonga or Cilic look like a last-four opponent for Djokovic.

MATCH! She had to save another break point, the eighth of the match, but Ekaterina Makarova is through to the fourth round of the US Open with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Elina Svitolina. Read more here.

MATCH! We also have a result over on Court 7, and Benoit Paire has blitzed his way past Tommy Robredo 7-6 6-1 6-1 to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time, just like fellow French representative Kristina Mladenovic.

Now that we have brought you up to speed on what is happening at Flushing Meadows, it is time to focus on the next match on Arthur Ashe Stadium between Belinda Bencic against Venus Williams. It will be the former world number one against the future world number one, who holds a win over Venus's sister Serena last month. Will we see Venus roll back the years or will Bencic go a step further towards repeating her quarter-final appearance last year. It seems unrealistic to be saying that - she doesn't turn 19 until March - but that is how good she is.

The two players have just gone through their awkward pre-match interviews. Both players are completely in the zone and didn't offer much but Bencic mentioned "enjoyment", which is good to see. She has been given the tag of the future of the sport but far too often, youngsters have prospered in the women's game as teenagers but failed to take that into adulthood. All the signs are there though that she will buck the trend.

Despite many rating Bencic as the favourite for this contest, it's Williams who holds a 3-0 advantage in the head-to-head record without dropping a set. Early on, I'm sure that Bencic will be keen to show that she isn't intimidated by that streak.

Venus has just headed for a quick bathroom break but she's back to mild applause. I'm not sure it quite warranted that. Nevertheless, we are ready to get started on Arthur Ashe. It will be Venus to serve first.

Bencic opens up with a dream of a passing shot, but Williams gets to 15-15 with a crunching forehand winner. The veteran isn't holding back and two more aggressive points take her to the brink of the game, which is sealed with an ace. Statement made.

Two first serves from Bencic are hooked wide by Williams, but she is attacking at every opportunity and nails a forehand winner for 30-15. The Swiss gets her first ace on the board before a second serve is sent into the net by Venus.

The offensive tactics of Williams look great when they pay off, but not so much when they don't. She misses an easy backhand to get Bencic 15-15, but she replies by pressurising the teenager from the baseline. Venus throws in a double fault, but a big first serve prevents any trouble occurring on her own delivery.

Bencic needs to do very little in order to move to three game points, and that soon becomes a love hold when Williams make an error.

Venus replies in kind with a love service hold of her own. I think both players are keen to avoid getting into long rallies after their exertions in the last round.

Brilliant from Venus, who, at 30-15, powers into the net after the second set before putting away the volley. Bencic looks in control of the next point but she nets, handing Venus the first break point of the match, which is saved thanks to a fortunate net cord! The American laughed at her opponent's attempted apology. Venus gets another chance but Bencic's hitting is so clean and a drive volley gets her back to deuce. Third time lucky for Venus? Nope, she nets and Bencic is able to hold.

Venus drops the opening point but that only motivates her to unload off both her serve and the ground. The rest of the game lasts about a minute and the pressure switches back to the 18-year-old.

BREAK! Bencic lets out a shriek after falling 0-15 behind, but that's only the start of her problems. Two unforced errors in a row and she is facing three break points, and the tamest of double faults concedes the game. Huge meltdown!

SET! After the opening two points are shared, an 115mph serve almost knocks Bencic over. She doesn't face that problem on the next point before the ball flies past her. Two set points to Venus, but the first is saved by Bencic, who connects with a backhand into the corner. Williams cranks it up a notch thouh, firing down a 118mph ace.

Williams starts the second by crushing the ball against the Bencic serve, bringing up three break points in the process. Bencic saves the first two courtesy of cross-court backhands, before Williams nets during a rally to see the third go begging. It's a terrific escape from the 18-year-old Swiss, one that has the potential to hinder her 35-year-old opponent in her next service game.

At 25-15, Bencic mixes things up with a drop shot off a return but Venus handles it well to put away a forehand from inside the court. Another forehand winner gets the job done for the American and she holds relatively comfortably.

A missed drive volley gets the game off to the worst possible start for Bencic but she is soon back on top with a drilled forehand into the corner. A third ace creates two game points before a second serve is sent into the net on the return.

BREAK! Bencic was the beneficiary of a lucky net cord earlier in the match but it's Venus's turn now, who fires a volley into the top of the net and it creeps over. However, Bencic comes back and a forehand winner helps create her first break point of the contest. Williams, once again, takes the aggressive route but Bencic reads her approach shot and wrong-foots the American with a backhand passing shot.

Williams should move 15-30 ahead, but she makes an unforced error when attempting to send a backhand down the line. However, she replies with the most delicate of drop shots and she has a look at the immediate back break. Bencic steps up her game though, and a well-struck backhand forces the error.

The errors from Williams are coming on a regular basis now but she hauls her way back from 15-30 with three aggressive points. She needs to find something extra on Bencic's serve though. That opening game of the second set is looking pretty important right now.

BREAK! Is now the time for that response? A forehand winner and some superb defensive work earns Venus two break points, The first is saved, but Williams connects with a sublime backhand cross-court to snatch the break back. Brilliant play from the veteran.

Venus is completely tuned in now. Some hard hitting gets her to 30-0 before a beautiful drop volley surprises Bencic and the American is able to hold to love. Big game coming up for Bencic.

BREAK! After dropping the opening point, Williams unloads on a forehand to level things up and a sharp return from the American gets her to 30-30. After getting to deuce, the tension in Bencic's play is there for all to see and Williams takes advantage, driving a backhand into the corner. She will now serve for the match.

MATCH! Bencic starts a must-win game by twice going wide and Venus is two points from the win. The 35-year-old steps into the court to put away a forehand on the next point to create three match points, but the first is saved with a neat backhand from the teenager. She has no answer on the second match point though as Venus smashes an ace down the middle. What a performance.

An excellent win for Venus to advance to the fourth round of the competition, where she will face either Anett Kontaveit or Madison Brengle. A showdown with Serena could be on the cards should both sisters progress to the quarter-finals.

Venus hit an incredible 29 winners in that match, and finished with an ace. The 35-year-old rolled back the years with that performance and could well give her sister Serena problems in a potential last-eight clash.

RESULT! Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has secured his place in the last 16 of the competition by defeating Sergiy Stakhovsky in straight sets 6-3 7-5 6-2. The 30-year-old will take on his fellow Frenchman Benoit Paire in round four. Read here to see how Tsonga booked his place in the next stage at Flushing Meadows.

Venus has been speaking about her triumph of Belinda Bencic, and has proclaimed her love for Flushing Meadows, she told ESPN: "It's wonderful to be here. I love the game. I love the US Open."

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Last year's men's champion Marin Cilic is on the verge of completing his victory over Mikhail Kukushkin. The 26-year-old is serving for the match at 5-1 ahead at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

RESULT! Cilic has sealed his place in the fourth round of the competition by sending an ace past Kukushkin to secure his victory in five sets 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-7 6-1. The 26-year-old will now take on either number seven seed David Ferrer or Jeremy Chardy in the last 16.

Now we can turn our attention to Novak Djokovic and his clash against Andreas Seppi. The world number one is 10 for 10 in his meetings against the Italian, including one victory at the French Open in the round of 32 in 2012.

Here we go, Djokovic will serve first.

Solid start from the world number as he quickly finds his rhythm on serve to put the Italian on the back foot. Seppi manages to get himself into the game by winning a point on a Djokovic error, but the Serb fires a forehand down the line to clinch the first game.

Good baseline rally to start the game, but Djokovic slams the ball into the net to hand the Italian the lead, but Seppi responds with an error of his own. The Serb plays a loose backhand into the net, but then comes back with a sublime bit of play to open up the court for a dropshot into space. However, Seppi rallies to secure the hold.

BREAK! Nice from Seppi to take a 0-15 lead by powering a shot down the line, leaving Djokovic to reach for a defence but he then allows the Italian to play a forehand winner. Djokovic then slams a backhand into the net and goes long with a loose backhand, handing Seppi three break points. The world number one loses his serve as he goes long again on his backhand to give the Italian the early initiative.

BREAK! A true sign of a champion from Djokovic as he hits back at Seppi immediately to level the scores. The Serb find his accuracy on his backhand and begins to make the Italian pay for his mistakes with a couple of winners to stop the number 25 seed's early momentum.

Djokovic gets back on track on his serve as he manages to put the Italian on the back foot and hits a series of forehand winners to secure the game with relative ease to regain the lead in the match. The Serb started off slowly, but looks to be gradually clicking into gear.

Djokovic attacks the serve of the Italian strongly, attempting to earn the break, but Seppi repels him with a sublime backhand at his feet. The world number one displays his resilience to remain in the point as Seppi has two chances to put him away with a slam, but he manages to put is away on the third try. The number 25 seed secures the hold as Djokovic fires a shot into the net.

A strong hold by Djokovic as he overwhelms the Italian with the accuracy of his serve and the power of his forehand. He races into 30-0 lead before Seppi manages to get into the game. However, the Serb works him over with a serve out wide and then crashes his forehand into the open court to secure the match.

BREAK! Djokovic commits an error to hand the initiative in the game to the Italian by firing his backhand into the net. He then goes wide with a forehand down the line, although a loose forehand from Seppi brings him back into the game. A fine return sets up the chance at a forehand winner, and this time the world number one does not miss, while Seppi commits a mistake when he goes long with his backhand. However, Seppi earns the advantage after a lengthy rally by drilling a backhand down the line, but a double fault and underhit backhand presents Djokovic with a break point. The Italian fends off the world number one twice, but Djokovic keeps plugging away to earn the break.

SET! Djokovic starts the match with a double fault, but Seppi cannot take advantage as he blasts two forehands beyond the basline to hand the world number one a 30-15 lead. The Italian has a great opportunity to hit a winner on the line, but he misses, handing Djokovic two set points, although Seppi brings it back to one with a fine forehand. However, Djokovic secures the set as Seppi goes long with yet another backhand.

Strong start to the second set from Seppi as he drags Djokovic out wide with his serve before hammering his backhand across the court. The Italian continues his good work by keeping himself in a rally with the world number one before dispatching a forehand past the Serb. However, two mistakes from Seppi allow Djokovic to come into the game, and a loose backhand into the net follows to bring up deuce. The Italian regains his composure and manages to secure the hold.

A simple hold for the world numner as Seppi fails to put up much resistance, although Djokovic secures the game with a slice of luck as his forehand clips the net and bounces on to the Italian's side of the court.

An error from Seppi hands an early lead to Djokovic, but the Italian finds his feet with a sublime forehand, while Djokovic then goes long with a loose forehand. The number 25 seed then produces a fine bit of tennis to work the Serb to the left side of the court before hammering his forehand across in the empty space. Djokovic fires his backhand into the net to allow the Italian to hold.

Seppi continues to hammer the net with his forehand to hand Djokovic the lead, which the Serb compounds with an ace down the 'T'. Another ace follows from the world number one, before he makes it three on the spin with a serve across the Italian. Seppi had no chance in that game.

The Italian battles to find a winner to take a 15-0 lead before Djokovic hammers his forehand into the net. The duo play out an excellent rally to decide the third point of the game as the Serb plays the ball down the line, but Seppi delivers a ferocious forehand at his feet to win the point. The 25th seed wins the game when Djokovic fails to control his forehand going for the baseline.

Seppi's attemps at finding the baseline fail as he goes long with two backhands before Djokovic manoeuvres him across the court to drop a shot over the net to earn three game points. The Serb uses the same tactic again to move the Italian to the net, but this time he reaches the ball, although his shot drops just out.

Djokovic tries the drop shot for the third point in a row, but the Italian is alert to the danger now and races forward to guide a shot down the line. A forehand winner and an ace follow to take the attack to the Serb, and he seals the game with a forehand winner across the court after knocking Djokovic out wide with a powerful serve. Good game developing here!

Great start to the game from Seppi as he produces a rapid return to knock Djokovic back to force the error from the Serb. However, he commits two errors of his own by overhitting his forehand and Djokovic finds another ace by going across the Italian. The 28-year-old secures the hold when the 25th seed slams his forehand into the net.

Shocking miss from Djokovic as he has all the time in the world to pick his spot following a drop shot from Seppi, but he can only guide his stroke into the net. Seppi continues to thrive in the longer rallies against the Serb as he fires a forehand winner followed by a backhand down the line. The Italian secures the hold as Djokovic goes long with his forehand, putting the world number one under a little bit of pressure in his service game.

The nerves increase for the world number one when he misses his backhand down the line, but Seppi fails the capitalise on his opening with a loose forehand which sails past the baseline. Djokovic shows his quality by powering his forehand down the line before the duo exchange at least 20 shots in an epic rally before the Serb drops one over the net, and the 25th seed just cannot keep his shot in. Djokovic secure the hold as the Italian fires his stroke into the net.

BREAK! Djokovic produces his best tennis to race into a 30-0 lead, but Seppi displays his resilience to come back into the game to level the scores, rightly using hawkeye to overturn a poor line call. The Italian produced an excellent backhand at the feet of the world number to secure a game point, which he cannot take as he goes wide with a loose backhand. Seppi cannot put the 28-year-old away and he then misses with a forehand to hand Djokovic a break point, although the world number one goes long with his forehand to bring about deuce once again. However, a fine strike down the line gives the Serb another chance and this time he is able to seize it when Seppi crashes his shot into the net.

SET! Djokovic takes the initiative early in the game by powering into a 30-0 lead, captitalising on mistakes from the Italian. He tries to drop a delicate slice over the net, but sees his shot fall narrowly short. Seppi rallies with a backhand down the line to level the scores, although Djokovic quickly restores his advantage with an ace wide of the court. The world number one secures the set when he advances to the net and puts his shot away on the volley. Djokovic has not been at his best, but has grinded out the first two sets.

Seppi takes an aggressive approach to his tactics in the opening game of the third set. He powers a couple of forehanders past the Serbn before finding a backhand, which dips over the net and clips the line to hand him the first game.

Djokovic hits back with an emphatic hold of his own as he finds the line with a couple of forehands before the Italian commits two errors to hand the world number one the game.

BREAK! Could this be the beginning of the end for Seppi. Djokovic goes long with a forehand to give the Italian a 30-0 lead, but he rallies back to tie the scores at 30-30 before he commits another error to hand a game point to Seppi. However, the Italian tries to go for the line and misses by millimetres to bring up deuce and Djokovic earns a break point as he reads a drop shot from Seppi to return the ball with a delicate shot of his own. Seppi then goes wide with a forehand to give the world number one the break.

A response from Seppi as an error from Djokovic and two excellent forehands from the Italian present him with three break points, although an ace from the world number cuts those to two. Djokovic is money in his serve again to bring himself within a point and the chance has gone for the Italian when the Serb serves big outside and volleys the ball into the open court. The world number one earns advantage with an ace, but then commits an error by dragging his backhand into the net. However, he manages to secure the hold as Seppi slices his backhand into the net.

Djokovic misses the line on the first point of the game as he fires his forehand wide, with Seppi nowhere to be seen. The Italian produces a fine shot to counter Djokovic's drop shot to slice his stroke past the world number one. Seppi secures the game with a couple of winners to keep himself in the match.

The Serb speeds into a 30-0 lead with two fine serves to put Seppi on the back foot, but he then goes long with a forehand to bring the 25th seed into the game and the Italian levels the scores with a cross-court forehand. However, Djokovic finds his form to secure the two points he needs to win the game. The Serb is slowly closing in on victory.

Djokovic drives into an early lead with a forehand down the line, but then allows the Italian into the game by playing a loose shot at stroke from Seppi which looked to be heading out. The world number hits back with a powerful strike down the line and he earns a couple of break points, but he commits another error to allow the Italia back in the game and Seppi brings the match to deuce before Djokovic slams a forehand wide to hand his opponent advantage. Seppi cannot take the first game point, but he manages to take the second to keep his slim hopes alive.

A winner from Djokovic down the line and a forehand into the net from Seppi hand the world number one the early advantage in the game. Seppi commits another error to bring up 40-0, and the Italian blasts a backhand into the net to give Djokovic a love service game.

Seppi produces a well-worked point by coming to the net and volleying his effort past the Serb, but he then blasts his a backhand into the net when trying to go down the line. Seppi produces a smash and then a backhand winner down the line before Djokovic finds the net to hand him the game. The world number one will now attempt to serve out the match.

BREAK! It's not over as Djokovic falters on his serve. Seppi takes the attack to Djokovic who skies his forehand into the stands, and the Italian works the Serb over before firing a winner down the line to take a 0-30 lead. The 28-year-old digs deep and soaks up the onslaught from the Italian to find a winning volley to get back into the game. However, the world number one goes wide with his next shot and screams in frustration as he presents Seppi with two break points. Stunning from Djokovic as he double faults to give the Italian the break.

BREAK! A loose forehand hands Djokovic the lead, but the Italian responds with a fine forehand down the line to tie the scores. Djokovic finally clicks into gear to win a well-worked point before Seppi yields another error with a wide drop shot to give the world number one two break points. The 28-year-old seizes the initiative to power a forehand down the line and the Italian can only fire his response into the net. Another chance to Novak to serve out.

GAME, SET, MATCH! Djokovic takes the lead with a strong forehand, but Seppi keeps fighting to stay in the match and takes a 15-30 advantage as the Serb double faults again. The Italian charges the net and drops his sliced backhand right on the baseline, forcing Djokovic to use the lob but he misses, handing Seppi two break points. However, the 25th seed finds the net with a forehand and then goes wide with his backhand slice to concede deuce. Djokovic finds his serve to earn a match point and he takes it as the Italian goes long with his backhand to seal his place in the last 16 of the competition.

Well, Novak was far from his best in that encounter but he managed to find a way to secure a straight-sets victory. Seppi played well enough, but appeared to lose his composure in the key moments of the match, which allowed the 28-year-old to keep his cool and ease into the last 16 of the US Open. Novak will now play either David Goffin or Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round.

UPDATE! A quick recap of what is going on around the courts at the US Open while we've been embroiled in the Djokovic match. Feliciano Lopez is one set up in his match against Milos Raonic, while David Goffin is two sets ahead of Robert Bautista Agut, but the Spaniard looks to be taking the third set in that match. In the women's singles, Eugenie Bouchard and Dominika Cibulkova are tied up at one set apiece over at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Roger Federer has paid tribute to Lleyton Hewitt after the Australian bowed out of the US Open for the final time in his career following his defeat to Bernard Tomic. The 34-year-old will officially retire after the Australian Open next year.

"He was a big challenge in my career, to understand how in the world can you be so tough physically and mentally at such a young age," Federer told reporters.

For more read here.

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Novak Djokovic has admitted that he was forced to battle to defeat Andreas Seppi in his third-round clash. The world number one was not at his best at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but still secured a straight-sets victory.

"[The key was to] hang in there, try to create my own pace. It's not easy to maintain control of the rallies because he stays close to the line and plays very quick," Djokovic told ESPN.

UPDATE! Eugenie Bouchard has broken Dominika Cibulkova to take a 3-1 lead in the deciding set of their match, while Roberto Bautista Agut did pull back a set in his match against David Goffin.

RESULT! We have a retirement out on court number 17 as David Goffin has been forced to call it quits in his match against Roberto Bautista Agut, despite holding a 2-1 advantage in sets in their clash. Bautista Agut will advance to the fourth round of the competition to take on Novak Djokovic.

RESULT! Eugenie Bouchard has secured her place in the fourth round of the US Open by defeating Dominika Cibulkova in three sets 7-6 (11-9) 4-6 6-3. The Canadian will now face Roberta Vinci in the last 16 of the competition.

Check out our recaps of the results that have just come through here:

Eugenie Bouchard vs. Dominika Cibulkova
Roberto Bautista Agut vs. David Goffin

Johanna Konta has revealed that the only reason that she played tennis was because there was facility right next to her school in Australia. The Briton is bidding to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time when she takes on Andrea Petkovic on Saturday.

She told BT Sport: "With tennis, my mum played a bit and my uncle still plays to this day, so tennis was always around, but the only reason I started playing was that there was a tennis centre right next to my primary school in Australia."

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Before the night sessions begins, here are some of the highlights from earlier today.

Defending men's champion Marin Cilic sealed his place in the fourth round by overcoming Mikhail Kukushkin in a five-set epic. Read more here.

Venus Williams dumped number 12 seed Belinda Bencic out of the competition to progress to the last 16. Read more here.

Jo Wilfried-Tsonga defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky in straight sets to advance. Read more here.

Novak Djokovic beat Andreas Seppi in straight sets, despite not being at his best, to reach the last 16. More here.

UPDATE! Number 18 seed Feliciano Lopez is now two sets ahead of 10th seed Milos Raonic in their match out on the Grandstand.

That is all from me. I shall now hand you over to Callum Mulvihill for all the action from the evening session at Flushing Meadows.

Thanks Simon! What an evening session we have in store, too. Serena Williams is just a few moments away from starting her third-round match and I'll be bringing you game-by-game coverage of her meeting with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. You can expect the same treatment for Rafael Nadal vs. Fabio Fognini later on.

David Ferrer has just started his match against Jeremy Chardy. No break for either player in the opening two games of that third-round clash.

The farewell continues for an Aussie legend.

Enjoyed winning our 1st rd doubs match today w/ @SamGrothTennis @usopen Great atmosphere #OneLastTime — Lleyton Hewitt (@lleytonhewitt) September 4, 2015

For those of you who do not know Bethanie Mattek-Sands. She was handed a wildcard in this tournament and claimed a superb 6-2 6-1 victory over fellow American Coco Vandweghe. The 30-year-old has already recorded her best finish at Flushing Meadows by reaching the third round.

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Williams and Mattek-Sands are out on the court knocking up. It was far from a trademark display from the world number one in the previous round against Kiki Bertens, who impressed and had chances to put her under more pressure before the top seed came through with a 7-6 6-3 victory.

So, is this going to be another routine win on the way to Grand Slam number 22 for Williams? Or is Mattek-Sands in the mood to cause a shock? The quest for a sweep of the four Grand Slams continues for the best player in the world.

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Here we go then. Mattek-Sands to serve first.

Excellent start for Mattek-Sands as she begins with two unreturned serves. Williams gets a second serve to attack and is on the board, before just missing the line when she goes after the next one. Another second serve follows and Williams is just too strong again. An attempted serve and volley ends in failure as the top seed sends her rival the wrong way with another winner. Second serve? Yes please, thinks Serena as she hammers back an unstoppable forehand. The first break point arrives but Williams misses the baseline when attacking another second serve. Mattek-Sands gets her next first serve in to claim advantage, before clinching the hold. The underdog a touch lucky to escape with a hold.

BREAK! Wow! There's a few shocked noises in the crowd when Mattek-Sands returns her rival's first serve with a stunning forehand winner. A double fault follows. Williams put in extra serve after her win on Wednesday, so she will be keen on improving quickly. An ace is the perfect response, but Mattek-Sands has two break points when she comes forward to put away a fine volley. Williams goes long with a forehand! Moments after saving a break point, Mattek-Sands makes the early breakthrough.

Williams goes after two second serves, but she pushes too hard on both at the start of the game. Another couple of errors follow as Mattek-Sands breezes to a comfortable hold to love.

You have got to love this aggressive start from Mattek-Sands, who comes to the net without a care in the world to put away another volley. The door is open slightly again when Williams finds the net with a forehand. A first serve from the top seed is too hot to handle, before Mattek-Sands is beaten by a passing backhand on a misjudged trip to the net. Williams produces the one-two with the big serve followed by a backhand winner. The hold is then secured and Williams screams some encouraging words to herself. She's arrived.

BREAK! Williams is just too strong early in the game as she punishes Mattek-Sands for another venture to the net to get to 0-30. An unforced error hands a point back to the underdog, but Mattek-Sands responds well in a brilliant rally to finally put Williams away with a second volley. A second serve looks to be there for destroying, but Williams miscues the backhand. It's picture-perfect at the second attempt as Williams comes back to deuce, and she repeats the same trick to bring up break point. Mattek-Sands has to get the first serve in. She does in the next point and produces a fine forehand to save herself. Williams punishes another second serve to peg her opponent back from advantage and has break point again with a brutal backhand. It's a lucky finish to the game as a forehand clips the net to make it awkward for Mattek-Sands, whose volley drifts long.

RESULT! Raonic did not look right from the first game and Lopez has capitalised with a fine performance. The Spaniard progresses to round four with a 6-2 7-6 6-3 victory over the 10th seed. He will meet Nadal or Fognini next.

BREAK! Mistakes continue to keep the supporters quiet as Williams follows an unforced error with a double fault. She responds with her second ace of the match, but finds the net with a backhand to gift the wildcard a couple of break points. Superb! Mattek-Sands is brave enough to come to the net once again and she is rewarded with the break when a back-foot smash beats Williams. Incredible start to this match on Arthur Ashe.

Mattek-Sands defends brilliantly at the back of the court to return a couple of powerful ground strokes, but Williams eventually readjusts to hammer home the forehand. Another aggressive point follows and Mattek-Sands responds with a winner of her own. Williams takes the next point, before Mattek-Sands serves and volleys to get to 30-30. The Serena scream is not far away when break point arrives with a stunning forehand winner. Mattek-Sands saves it in style by wrong-footing the world number one to produce a fine half-volley. Williams attacks the second serve, but the technology proves she was an inch or two wide. Mattek-Sands claims a crucial hold with an unreturned first serve.

Williams is still fighting in the opener. A double fault delays a hold to love, but the pressure is back on Mattek-Sands, who will now serve for the first set.

SET! If ever Mattek-Sands needs first serves, it is now. Williams takes the first point with a powerful backhand and a smash, but Mattek-Sands hits back with a fine first serve. Williams edges back again when her return is just too strong for her opponent at the net. Fantastic tennis from Williams as the angle on the forehand sends Mattek-Sands wide and brings her a couple of break points. Mattek-Sands saves one and appears to get to deuce with an ace, but Williams challenges successfully. The second serve, inevitably, is attacked but Williams goes long. Another break point arrives when Mattek-Sands drifts wide with a backhand. Williams misses with the backhand again! Williams should get another chance when she comes to the net, but she somehow misses with the powerful volley. Mattek-Sands takes the set! The world number 101 watches a return of serve from Williams land wide. Are we in for a huge shock?

Williams was arguably going too hard at the ball in the opening set. 14 unforced errors to just the one from Mattek-Sands proves why the underdog is ahead at the moment. Williams produces a couple of well-directed second serves, despite being left helpless by a superb return from her rival. It's a comfortable hold for the top seed.

She may be ahead, but Mattek-Sands must find a way to improve on a 50% first-serve percentage. Williams hammers a second serve back with interest on a winner, before 0-30 arrives when Mattek-Sands miscues the volley. The power is just too match later in the game as Williams finishes off a dominant point with an unstoppable backhand from mid-court. Mattek-Sands saves the first of two break points and Williams then goes wide with a backhand to bring deuce. Is it almost reckless from the world number one? She seems intent on hitting a winner every ball and Mattek-Sands is more than happy to escape with a hold after two strokes hit the net.

A rare venture into the net ends with Williams producing a textbook sliced volley midway through a comfortable game. She holds to love to bring a reaction from the crowd. Encouragement from the NYC crowd.

UPDATE: Ferrer is currently down a set to Chardy after the Frenchman claimed an 8-6 tie-break win over the seventh seed in the opener.

Mattek-Sands, possibly sensing the attack from her opponent, starts the game with a double fault. It soon becomes 15-30 when a second double fault arrives. Mattek-Sands does get the first serve in next, but a superb backhand from Williams brings two break points. A couple of errors from the top seed allows Mattek-Sands to get back to deuce, and the local are certainly concerned about Williams, despite there being two Americans on court. Mattek Sands gets to advantage, but Williams pulls her back with a pushed volley. It's the underdog's turn to come to the net but she can barely get a racket on a powerful backhand. Just call her Houdini! Mattek-Sands saves another break point when Williams hits the net after catching a drop shot. It gets better when she recovers from a poor drop shot to lob the world number one, who twice misses with swings at the ball. Mattek-Sands somehow holds again. Williams has converted to just one of 12 break points.

Everyone loves an underdog, but there is no doubt that this crowd want Williams to keep her dream alive. The cheers of encouragement after a superb backhand winner tell you that much. Williams is certainly improving on serve in this set. She holds to love.

Williams is starting to change her approach slightly, but Mattek-Sands is a joy to watch at the moment as the world number one miscues the second of two volleys when the underdog goes for power. A venture to the net from Mattek-Sands ends with a volley drifting long. However, the hold is secured with a couple of fine serves which Williams fails to get in play. Can she get a break?

Williams is still attempting to urge herself on and a couple of fist pumps follow when Mattek-Sands finds the net twice early in the game. Stunning! Excellent tennis from Mattek-Sands as she takes a couple of steps forward to find the line with a forehand winner. Williams hits back with a huge ace down the middle. She holds with a show of power off the forehand after Mattek-Sands gives her all to return a serve.

BREAK! Mattek-Sands attempts to go shot for shot with Williams from the back of the court. Bad idea. Williams comes forward a couple of steps to deliver an unstoppable forehand, but a powerful stroke of her own gets Mattek-Sands back to 15-15 moments later. Williams knocks on the door with a backhand winner off the second serve, before kicking it open to bring up two break points with another winner after the deflection off the net gives her a big opportunity. She does it! Mattek-Sands goes wide with a backhand and loses her serve for the first time. Has the momentum just changed? You could hear Williams in New Jersey after that break!

BREAK! Williams looks to be cruising to the set at 30-0, but a double fault is followed by a powerful backhand and Mattek-Sands wisely leaves the volley. Incredible. Another double fault hands break point to Mattek-Sands. What a response! She comes forward with a fine forehand and Mattek-Sands is celebrating when Williams finds the net. It is turning into a dramatic evening in New York.

Mattek-Sands could produce one of the greatest US Open shocks ever tonight, but she continues to look like the calmest person at Flushing Meadows. The first serve is clicking now, too. She strolls to a comfortable hold to 15. Mattek-Sands did not read the script.

Williams continues to produce moments of brilliance as she leaves her opponent stranded with an unstoppable backhand, before doing the same with a powerful forehand. This really is becoming a special match. An ace completes a hold to love. Can Mattek-Sands get to the tie-break?

Mistake from Mattek-Sands first up as she volleys a touch too firmly after a serve out wide. The nerves are building when Williams meets the next serve with a backhand winner. Superb! Williams then returns a serve with a forehand winner to bring up three set points. She wastes one with a forehand into the net, before throwing away a second when going wide while attacking the second serve. Williams does it! Mattek-Sands is forced to go for it, but the backhand is just too long. We are headed for a third set in a fantastic match. Can Mattek-Sands fight back?

UPDATE: Ferrer is back level with Chardy after winning the second set 6-4, while Madison Keys is leading Agnieszka Radwanska thanks to a 6-3 triumph in the opener. In the headline match, Mattek-Sands has headed off court and she will no doubt be trying to regain focus after that second-set disappointment.

Ominous signs for Mattek-Sands. All of the weapons appear to be working now as Williams dominates in the game with her serve and forehand. She holds to love. Mattek-Sands needs to find another level.

BREAK! Mattek-Sands needs a good start to the third set and she begins with a confidence booster when Williams fails to return the first serve, but the world number one hits back with a backhand winner out of nowhere. A fantastic return of serve is then too much for Mattek-Sands, who has no chance of executing the volley. The power is starting to be too much as Mattek-Sands goes long on the stretch. Two break points arrive. Ouch. A double fault hands Williams the breakthrough. Disaster for the underdog.

Williams starts a new service game with a 121mph ace, before delivering her sixth double fault of the match. The world number one is left applauding at mid-court when she is beaten by a fantastic running backhand winner from Mattek-Sands. Williams hits back emphatically with a winner, but Mattek-Sands has break point when the top seed goes long. The chance is gone when she barely gets a touch on a serve from Williams, who eventually escapes with the hold.

BREAK! The nerves are starting to creep in as Mattek-Sands delivers a double fault, but she should regain some confidence with a wider first serve that Williams is unable to send back. Williams is happy to work on the second serve, though, as she steps in to unleash an unstoppable backhand. Mattek-Sands then goes wide to gift her opponent two break points. She takes full advantage by chasing down the backhand to beat Mattek-Sands and send the crowd wild. Fantastic tennis to stay in the point from behind the baseline.

This has been an incredible match. After battling all of the problems throughout the first two sets, Williams is just one game away from a spot in the fourth round thanks to a hold to 30. From one corner to the other, Williams finds the line with a stunning winner and ends with the splits on the court. There's a reason she is the best in the world. Mattek-Sands needs a miracle now.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! You won't see many better escape acts than this one from Williams. The crowd are almost laughing when she produces a quite remarkable backhand winner to get to 0-30 and Mattek-Sands then goes long to gift her three match points. After missing the first two with wild forehands, Williams completes the comeback with the smash. Incredible scenes on Arthur Ashe.

What a match! Williams is clearly emotional at the net as she embraces Mattek-Sands, who pushed the world number one so hard but was powerless to stop the comeback after being pegged back in the second set. If Williams clinches her seventh US Open title, many will look back to tonight as the key moment. A quiet incredible escape from the best in the world.

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"I'm not trying to live on the edge. Players come out and play really strong. I don't think I started to slow tonight, I just think Beth played really well and I had to do things to adapt to her game," Williams reveals on court. "I finally was able to get some rhythm going towards the end of the second."

RESULT! Williams will be fully aware that she must continue to improve and she will learn soon that her fourth-round opponent will be against another American. Madison Keys has just wrapped up a 6-3 6-2 win over Agnieszka Radwanska to set up a meeting with the world number one.

Had enough drama? Well, there is more to come! Rafael Nadal will be on Arthur Ashe soon to take on Fabio Fognini. Can the Spaniard progress past the 32nd seed?

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Nadal and Fognini are out on Arthur Ashe. Which Rafa will we see tonight? At his best he remains one of the most feared players around, but there is less intimidation from him than there once was before all of his injury troubles.

Fognini beat Pablo Cuevas and Steve Johnson to get to this stage. Undoubtedly one of the most talented players on tour, the Italian struggles to produce his best on a consistent basis but the 28-year-old will be confident tonight.

Fognini has already equalled his best performance at the US Open by reaching the third round, while Nadal is, of course, a two-time winner. These two are not the best of friends either after a few words were exchanged before Nadal clinched the Hamburg Open in an entertaining final last month.

RESULT! There has been a mini-upset this evening as veteran Frenchman Jeremy Chardy reaches the fourth round with a 7-6 4-6 6-3 6-1 win over seventh seed Jeremy Chardy.

Both players are ready to go. Fognini to serve first.

Nadal starts with a big first serve before an error brings Fognini level. It is a comfortable opening game, though, as the Spaniard holds to 1

BREAK! Confident start from Nadal as he wins a test of patience from the back of the court when Fognini goes long, but the Italian hits back with an unreturned serve. A hint of a chance arrives when Fognini commits another error from the baseline. Brilliant! It has not taken Nadal long to find his range. He leaves Fognini helpless with a superb backhand pass to bring up two break points. Fognini gifts him the breakthrough with a double fault.

BREAK! The break has given Nadal all of the momentum but there is a fightback from the Italian. Fognini's excellent shot-making ability is clear but he is already growing frustrated with his mistakes. Nadal looks in good rhythm with the serve but a couple of poor strokes keep Fognini in the game. A break point arrives when Fognini responds to a second serve with a superb backhand winner. A long backhand allows Nadal to get back to deuce, before a big serve puts the Spaniard ahead. Nadal then goes for the line with the forehand, but his stroke drifts well wide of the line. Fognini earns another break point by following a big forehand with an emphatic smash. Nadal hits back once again, but a third break point arrives when Fognini clips the line with another winner. He breaks back! Fognini raises his hand, but I'm sure he does not mind seeing the ball clip the net on the way past Nadal.

BREAK! On paper, this game promised entertainment and it is certainly delivering already. A third successive break hands the advantage back to Nadal. Fognini is furious when he finds the net twice, before pulling a point back. Nadal then miscues a forehand into the net to make it 30-30. The lengths in the next rally are superb from Nadal as Fognini sends an awkward forehand wide of the line. Fognini saves the first break point, but another arrives when the Italian blinks first to strike the net at the end of a long rally. A superb response follows as Fognini puts away a perfect volley, but another mistake brings up a third break point. Nadal refuses to pass on this opportunity as a defensive slice somehow evades Fognini after he had come towards the net once again.

The New York crowd are being treated to some fantastic tennis early in this match. Fognini delights the crowds with an inch-perfect drop shot, before Nadal gets to 30-30 by volleying home to complete an excellent combination off the forehand. Fognini finds a break point by putting away the Spaniard, who somehow stayed in the point for longer than he should have been able to. Nadal hits back to deuce, before eventually clinching the hold. Every game is an epic at the moment.

Just like Nadal does, a moment of magic hands him the first point when a challenge from Fognini proves that his forehand clipped the line. Fognini follows a big first serve with a forehand winner of his own, before a couple of errors at the other end move him to 40-15. Wow! Nadal is feeling it on the forehand side as he shuts down a possible move to the net with a stunning stroke past Fognini's outstretched racket. A hop in the air is followed by a fine backhand down the winner and Fognini gets the hold.

Better from Fognini, who mixes it up well early in the game to get to 15-15 with a routine volley. It is the first of two highlights in the game for the 32nd seed, who punishes a weak second serve with a fine backhand, but Nadal holds to 30 to move closer to winning the opener.

Fognini reacts to a miscue with a couple of well-constructed points as Nadal fails to get the ball in play, before a unreturned serve makes it 40-15. He should put away a forehand, too, but can only fin the net halfway up. Nadal capitalises on a second serve to send his rival wide and Fognini is caught in a poor position. Deuce. Set point arrives when the Italian goes long with a forehand. Nadal has a chance to take the set when Fognini slips behind the baseline, but the eighth seed can only hit the net. Fognini escapes with the hold to extend the set.

SET! Nadal has dominated the longer rallies, which is bad news for Fognini when the eighth seed is already putting away forehands after serves out wide. The Spaniard cruises to the set by holding to love. After 43 minutes, Nadal is in charge.

Fognini played some fantastic tennis, but those flashes of brilliance came with too many mistakes and Nadal has managed to capitalise. You sense that the Italian must win the second set.

The New York crowd enjoy the point of the match so far as Nadal somehow stays in a rally with an over the shoulder volley, before Fognini watches his opponent go long. Fognini holds to love. He needed that after losing the opener.

The power from the back of the court is quite incredible as Nadal moves his opponent from side to side, and the length is too difficult for Fognini, who sends a forehand wide. Nadal dominates the next rally, too, before watching the Italian drift wide of the line. Superb tennis from the former world number one. Fognini hits back with a forehand down the line, but he is unable to prevent Nadal from wrapping up the game.

Fognini is just starting to click with the serve, and he moves to 30-0 with an unstoppable forehand winner. It is a brilliant game from the 32nd seed who makes it two service games without the loss of a point in the second set.

Nadal finds the perfect spot with a second serve to take the first point, before relying on a lazy stroke into the net from Fognini to move to 30-0. A double fault follows, and Fognini produces something no textbook will show you as he hits a volleyed winner from closer to the baseline than the net. Nadal edges back ahead and takes the game when Fognni unleashes a wild forehand.

Much better tennis from Fognini in this second set. He's staying in points for longer, but the serve is improving too as he sends down a 122mph unreturned effort. Nadal wins a longer rally when Fognini makes a mistake reminiscent of his troubles from the opener, but the serve gets the Italian to 40-30. A mistake from Nadal, who should leave a ball which is heading out but volleys into the net, hands the game to Fognini.

Fognini is furious with himself when he loses another long rally with a forehand into the net on the stretch. Nadal is delivering the wide serve superbly and collects another point with it, before handing one back when a forehand drifts long. The response? An ace down the middle. A wayward backhand brings a groan from Fognini and hands the game to Nadal. Comfortable stuff from the Spaniard.

Excellent defence from Nadal at the back of the court, but a poor volley from Fognini lets him off the hook and the left-hander takes the point with a clever lob. Fognini hits back to go up 30-15, before a miscued forehand allows Nadal to get back level. A needless drive volley goes long and gifts the break point to Nadal, who misses with the backhand when attacking the second serve. Nadal takes charge of the next point and delights the crowd by putting in the slide while hammering a forehand winner down the line. Fognini finally wins a long rally when Nadal finds the net with a backhand on break point. The Italian eventually escapes with an ace down the middle, despite a challenge from Nadal.

Many have examined it this year, but there does not seem to be much wrong with the Nadal forehand tonight as he starts a new game with a couple of unstoppable winners. Fognini's failure to return a first serve makes it 40-0 and Nadal wraps up the game when his opponent fires a forehand wide on the stretch.

Nadal somehow manages to return a couple of powerful ground strokes, before watching Fognini put away a forehand winner on the way to a 40-0 lead. The game looks safe until an unforced error is followed by a double fault. Nadal does well to wrestle control of the next rally and Fognini's backhand lets him down again as he goes long. Break point arrives when Fognini hammers one into the net and he responds by slamming the racket into the ground. Breakthrough! A collapse to remember from Fognini as he finds the net again. That could prove to be the crucial moment in the match.

SET! Nadal looks to be cruising through. Fognini needed to take one of the first two sets, and it will take something special from here. Nadal threatens to produce a collapse similar to the one just seen from his rival after going from 40-0 to deuce with three errors. A stunning moment brings the fans to their feet when Nadal returns a lob, before responding with a huge forehand which Fognini can only send back well wide of the line. Fognini's backhand into the net hands the 2-0 lead to the eighth seed.

14 majors watching 14 majors. ⛳🎾 #tigerwoods #Rafa pic.twitter.com/f99ZNHaYZs — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2015

Has Fognini got any fight left in him? It is a positive start to the third set as he chases down a backhand with the perfect forehand down the line. Nadal is wayward with a couple of backhands and Fognini holds to love.

Nadal is almost punished for not putting a volley away, but Fognini goes a couple of inches too long with the lob. The left-hander then sends down an ace, before a powerful return off the second serve ends with him sending a forehand wide. Another unreturned serve moves Nadal to 40-15 and he levels it up in the third set with an excellent volley.

BREAK! For those of you who know Fognini well, this is a familiar performance. A 24th unforced error is followed by a brilliant serve and volley combo. Another unforced error arrives after a fine winner. An opportunity arrives for Nadal when Fognini is pushed back and can only go long. What next? An unforced error on the backhand side, of course. Nadal secures a vital break. He just needs to hold serve to progress.

Awful shot selection from Fognini, whose lack of movement is poor after a drop shot and is punished as he sends a volley into the net from a poor position in mid-court. Even the forehand is abandoning Fognini as he sends one long. Nadal refuses to let him off the hook as he follows an ace with another huge first serve which Fognini can only return long.

Fognini is quick to challenge when the chair umpire calls his backhand out, and the Italian shows a bit of frustration, despite it seeming to be a simple piece of miscommunication. The US crowd are not pleased with his antics either and the end result is no challenge. Strange. Nadal stays in a rally by somehow getting to a smash, but Fognini is left smiling when his opponent clips the net before the ball bounces out. Fognini puts away a powerful winner to get to 40-15 and takes the game with another excellent shot down the line.

BREAK! Better from Fognini as he moves the rally from side to side before waiting for the mistake from Nadal, who puts too much on the forehand. He builds on that point by catching a drop shot and giving Nadal no chance with the backhand down the line. Three break points arrive when Nadal miscues a forehand wide of the line with Fognini on the other side of the court. Superb! Fognini finds the line with a backhand down the line to break. Hold on, this one isn't over yet.

The momentum has just shifted slightly as Fognini puts the pressure back on Nadal with some powerful ground strokes from the back of the court. A 40-0 lead looks slightly less secure after he finds the net twice, but a fine second serve clinches the hold. Nadal must now produce a response to the early signs of a fightback.

Nadal takes the first point, but Fognini hits back with a couple of powerful forehands to force his rival back as he watches an attempted lob drift long. At 30-15, Fognini attempts to attack the second serve but he is a touch too strong. Nadal is not dominating as he once was and finds the net with a lazy shot. He clinches the hold with a rare winner in this third set.

Fognini is furious with himself when he starts the game with an unforced error, but he recovers well to get to 30-15 with the perfect sliced volley. Nadal attacks the second serve with a forehand which drifts wide. The serve comes through for the Italian as he holds to 15.

SET! Serving to extend the set, Nadal is handed a favour when Fognini finds the net halfway up with the forehand before an unreturned serve makes it 30-0. Fognini hits back with a forehand winner down the line out of nowhere. It really has been a mixed bag from the Italian, whose inconsistency is frustrating. Nadal welcomes him back to 30-30 with an unforced error. Chance? You bet! Fognini brings up set point by dominating the rally before stepping in to send the Spaniard the wrong way with a forehand winner. Nadal rescues himself by sending Fognini from one corner to the other and the 32nd seed can only find the net with the forehand on the stretch. Nothing wrong with the next forehand as Fognini's latest powerful stroke prevents Nadal from keeping the ball in. He does it! A routine victory takes a dramatic twist as Nadal goes wide with a forehand to gift the set to Fognini. We could be for a while yet.

Fognini did improve in that third set, but Nadal also strayed from the tactics that have served him so well. He must go back to attacking Fognini's backhand now.

BREAK! Chance for Nadal right at the start of the fourth set as an unforced error from Fognini is followed by the Spaniard clipping the line with a backhand winner. If I could speak Italian, I don't think I'd repeat what Fognini shouts after another mistake. 0-40 soon becomes 30-40 with a couple of long ground strokes and Fognini saves the third with a brilliant forehand winner. Nadal then drifts wide with a backhand, but Fognini brings it back to deuce with a mistake of his own. A smash earns Fognini advantage for a second time, before Nadal's excellent forehand proves to be too difficult for the 32nd seed to return. Fognini goes long to give the Spaniard a fourth break point.

Drama! The umpire overrules when the line judge calls Fognini's forehand out and the man in the chair is proved correct by the technology. A replay of the point sees Nadal find the net on the stretch. Fognini gets back to advantage, before a double fault extends a marathon game. So close! Fognini comes to the net and Nadal just misses with the running forehand. I can't believe this game. Another double fault arrives and break point is there for Nadal a moment later. Fognini then finds the net with a sliced backhand and Nadal makes the breakthrough. Is that Fognini's challenge done?

Nadal starts the game with a big first serve, before Fognini gives us another example of his shot-making ability with a forehand winner out of nowhere. A wayward forehand makes it 30-15 and an unreturned serve edges the Spaniard further ahead. Nadal takes the game when Fognini's drop shot barely makes it to the net. Poor from the 32nd seed.

Fognini is providing his own commentary by berating himself after an unforced error. Such has been the pattern of the night, he follows a mistake with an unstoppable forehand. Come on, you know the story by now. Fognini watches a high lob bounce before somehow hammering it into the net. Nadal sends a return of serve back at the net, before Fognini moves to 40-30 by pushing his opponent wide and finishing the rally with a volley. It wasn't easy, but Fognini wraps up a far more routine hold.

BREAK! Nadal delivers just his second double fault of the match to gift a point to Fognini, who hands one straight back with another error on the backhand side. Fognini then takes charge after a poor second serve and Nadal doesn't even chase a backhand winner down the line. The Italian fancies his chances of finding break points, but a horrible miscue while attacking the second serve makes it 30-30. Fognini is starting to win longer rallies, though, as he unleashes another winner with the backhand. Brilliant! You just can't predict anything tonight. Fognini dominates from the baseline before coming forward to put away the volley.

Better from Nadal. He has been predictable too often in these last two sets, but he recovers from two points lost to dominate a rally. Fognini gets to 40-15, before Nadal wakes up a few of his fans with an excellent forehand into the corner. A miscue with the return of serve hands the game to Fognini.

Nadal begins the game with an unforced error, before producing a forehand winner and an ace to take control. A combination does the trick next as Nadal sends his opponent out wide before putting the forehand away. There is a moment of concern for Fognini when he appears to hurt his ankle, but he looks to have recovered quickly. Nadal finishes the game off with another ace.

Nadal likes his chances with a couple of balls that sit up nicely, but he finds the net on both occasions. Fognini then produces a backhand winner from nowhere to clip the line. Nadal is forced to come to the net to play a drop shot in the next rally, and despite getting to the ball, Fognini can only send it long. The Italian then watches helplessly as his forehand clips the net and stays on his side of the court. However, he holds his nerve and serve when Nadal is unable to return one sent down the middle.

BREAK! It might be after midnight in New York, but the crowd are still glued to this match as Fognini drills a forehand down the line. Nadal sends one of his own into the net to offer a hint of a chance to his rival. Another error follows as Fognini controls the rally to bring up three break points. Is the unlikeliest of comebacks on? Nadal saves one break point by sending Fognini wide before following up with the forehand winner. Incredible! Fognini is just dominating now and his power is too much before a smash hands him the chance to serve for the set.

SET! Fognini is feeling the pressure as he blinks first in a long rally to send a forehand wide, but his confidence comes flooding back when he plays the perfect approach followed by a fine volley. An even better volley follows when he reads the attempted pass from Nadal. Set point arrives thanks to an emphatic forehand winner. The first is wasted by a double fault from Fognini. Nerves? What nerves? A big first serve is too much for Nadal, who miscues his return to send us to a decider.

What a turnaround at Flushing Meadows. Quite simply, Fognini was playing terribly early in the match but he has capitalised on a couple of opportunities to get back on level terms. Nadal is usually the man to back in a five-set epic, but this is not the same man we saw destroy players a few years ago. He should have finished this match a while ago, but he has opened the door on too many occasions. I'm not picking a winner!

As you would probably expect, both men went off court for a few moments after the fourth set. Nadal returns impressively to kick off the decider with a comfortable hold to love. Can he hit back?

Fognini starts the game with an emphatic forehand winner to punish a poor return of serve from Nadal, who can then only send a backhand wide on the stretch. The tricks are coming off now as Fognini sends Nadal the other way with another brilliant forehand. One hold to love each at the start of the decider.

BREAKTHROUGH! Fognini is probably going for his shots a bit too much early in the game as he hands Nadal a couple of points. Oh, wait. Shut me up Fabio! A brilliant return of serve winner gets him on the board in the game. Nadal is too strong with a forehand in the next rally as Fognini stretches to send the ball into the net. Another free swing from Fognini results in a winner on the forehand side. The door is opened slightly when Fognini attacks a second serve to get to deuce. Dare I say it, Fognini just looks the better player as his ever-improving backhand bring up break point when Nadal barely gets racket on ball. Breakthrough! Nadal slightly miscues a forehand and the ball drifts just wide of the line. Fognini needs to hold his serve to complete a remarkable win. Can he handle the pressure?

BREAK! The crowd are still on Nadal's side as he produces a trademark forehand winner. Fognini then ventures into the net late in a long rally, but Nadal spots the movement to push him wide and the Italian can only find the net with a half-volley. Nadal is pumped now and he's gifted a couple of break points when Fognini finds the net. One of the all-time greats is not going to quit! A fantastic forehand winner on the run produces the biggest reaction of the night from the fans. What a response.

BREAK! Hollywood writers couldn't come up with this storyline without being fired for being too unrealistic. Nadal commits a couple of errors in a row after Fognini takes the first point and the Italian has three break points at 0-40. Fognini asks him a difficult question with the lob, but the Spaniard responds with a fine volley before the big first serve brings it back to 30-40. Fognini gets the second serve he wants to attack and he takes charge of another rally before Nadal finds the net with a backhand. A third successive break hands the control back to the 32nd seed.

BREAK! You wouldn't dare predict a winner until the result is in. Fognini continues to commit unforced errors on a regular basis and a wide backhand offers Nadal an opportunity at 15-30. The ball sits up for the big forehand, but Fognini goes long to gift the Spaniard a couple of break points. Double fault! I give up pretending to know what is coming. What a time to make that mistake. We're back on serve once again in the decider.

BREAK! Jeers in the crowd when Nadal's miscue sends the ball to a spectator, who is unable to take the catch. An even bigger mistake follows on the court when Nadal hits the net with what should be a routine backhand. 0-30. Fognini spots a chance down the line, but can only hit the net with the backhand. Ace! Nadal is pumping the fist again now. The celebration is quickly forgotten when Fognini pushes him wide to clinch a break point when the Spaniard finds the net. How does he keep doing it? In the biggest point of the match, Fognini produces a brilliant drop shot to convert break point once again.

BREAK! Fognini pushes a serve wide before getting around the ball to find the other corner with the forehand winner. It gets even better, too, as Fognini hits the perfect forehand on the run to bring his coach to his feet. A venture to the net comes off when he guesses correctly to read Nadal's response to the drop with a fine volley. After three moments of brilliance, Fognini delivers a double fault before sending a forehand long. Surely he can't lose his serve from 40-0 again! Nadal delivers a trio of huge forehands to push Fognini wider and wider before getting to deuce by putting away the volley. A forehand into the net gives advantage to Fognini. Incredible! Fognini is on the floor twice to stop forehands from his rival but he fails to get a volley over the net.

Deuce. Fognini just refuses to take charge. An awful backhand drifts a yard long to hand break point to Nadal, but the Italian hits back with a volley at the net after failing to finish with the smash. He has no problem putting away the smash in the next point but his forehand is wide as Nadal hits back again. Oh dear. The miscues are getting worse as Fognini sends another forehand long. This really is quite astonishing stuff. Fognini saves another one with a beautiful drop volley but opens the door again with a forehand which barely hits the net halfway up. He hits back! The former world number one draws level again as Fognini fires a tired backhand into the net.

BREAK! I'm running out of words to describe this match. Nadal was back in it again, but it is now an astonishing seven breaks in a row and I'm not sure how the Spaniard could stop him this time. After being gifted the first point, Fognini delivers three unstoppable winners in a row to edge back in front once again. Can he hold serve and finally finish the job?

Fognini moves 30-0 up with ease, but a lazy backhand drifts long to bring Nadal back. It's time for the Spaniard to start swinging and he dominates a rally before breathing a sigh of relief when his opponent misses he baseline by a few inches. Match point! Nadal makes the mistake with a forehand that is just too strong.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Incredible. Just incredible from Fognini. Nadal sends the ball wide and Fognini stares at his camp in disbelief. For the first time in his career Nadal loses a five-set match after leading 2-0.

Where on earth did that come from? Nadal did not look at his best, but he was in complete control against an opponent who looked set to produce one of his frustrating displays. The comeback will never be forgotten. Fognini has beaten the two-time winner in a classic at Flushing Meadows. The Italian progresses as one of the all-time greats leaves the tournament at the third-round stage.

If you've been with me from the start, thank you very much. If not, go back and read all the action from a dramatic night in New York. Fognini is through after one of the most remarkable matches in recent memory. That's all from Sports Mole, but make sure you are back at 4pm (BST) for our coverage of day six.