Swiatek and Osaka advance on US Open day

Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka booked their places in the third round of the 2026 US Open on Thursday. Madison Keys and Felix Auger-Aliassime, however, were locked in difficult contests as the fifth day of play unfolded at Flushing Meadows.

Swiatek and Osaka progress

World number one Iga Swiatek moved smoothly into the next round. She expressed confidence in her post-match interview. "I am here with a better feeling probably than any other grand slam this year," Swiatek said, according to The Guardian's live report. The Polish star also joked about the challenge of travelling with her Lego collection.

Naomi Osaka, the 13th seed, advanced but not without a fight. She defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Osaka appeared dominant early, racing to a 6-2, 5-3 lead and serving for the match. Siniakova mounted a comeback, winning four consecutive games to steal the second set 7-5. Osaka regrouped in the decider. She found what the source called "some decent tennis when she needed it most" to close out the victory. Osaka will face Elise Mertens in the next round.

Keys and Auger-Aliassime in peril

Madison Keys found herself in a deep hole against Anna Bondar. After splitting the first two sets, Keys trailed 5-2 in the third set with Bondar serving for the match. The American staged a dramatic fightback. She saved multiple match points with aggressive forehands, including one struck off the frame. Keys broke back to trail 3-5 and later fought off more match points to hold serve. The tense decider eventually went to a match tiebreak.

Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime also faced a stern test from Karen Khachanov. After winning a tight first set in a tiebreak, Auger-Aliassime's level dipped. The source noted his second serve and backhand "not loads better than they were five years ago." Khachanov seized control, taking the second set 6-2 and building a 4-1 lead in the third. The report suggested the momentum felt "inexorable" for the Russian.

Other day five action

Several other matches were in progress across the grounds. Last year's runner-up, Amanda Anisimova, took the first set 6-3 against Austrian teenager Lilli Tagger. Marie Bouzkova established a lead over British qualifier Harriet Dart. The report also mentioned a commentary critique, noting that a broadcaster had switched from the Khachanov-Auger-Aliassime match to show Dart's game, a decision the writer found surprising.

The day's completed results included:

Play continued into the evening with several matches poised for dramatic conclusions.