Nadal wins epic struggle to reach US Open last 16 for 10th time

World number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal came back from a set and break down to defeat big-hitting Karen Khachanov 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/3) and reach the US Open fourth round.

The top seeded Spaniard triumphed after an epic 4 hour 23 minute struggle on Arthur Ashe Stadium in a match where the 22-year-old Khachanov had served for a two sets to love lead in the 10th game of the second set and had a set point in the fourth-set tiebreaker on Friday.

Nadal, seeking a fourth US Open title and 18th major, will face Georgia's world number 37 Nikoloz Basilashvili for a place in the quarter-finals.

Basilashvili reached the last-16 of a Slam for the first time by seeing off Argentina's Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4).

"Karen played well. He's improving always. He's young. He has everything. I really see him winning a lot of matches in his career," said Nadal who has now reached the fourth round in New York for the 10th time.

"For me personally, it was a physical, demanding match. It was mentally demanding."
- Anderson wins in five -
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