Shapovalov advances at U.S. Open; Fernandez, Venus Williams win in doubles

Denis Shapovalov advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open with an entertaining and error-filled 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over France's Valentin Royer on Thursday.

Shapovalov picked up his sixth break on match point in a contest where both players struggled to hold serve.

The 27th-seeded Canadian fired 29 aces but hit into 43 unforced errors, two more than Royer, in a match that took three hours 36 minutes to complete despite lasting just four sets.

Later Thursday, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., teamed with tennis legend Venus Williams to defeat sixth-seeds Ellen Perez of Australia and Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine 7-6 (4), 6-3 to open women's doubles play.

Fernandez and Williams, the 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam winner who recently returned to action, were given a wild card into the tournament on Wednesday.

WATCH | Shapovalov advances to 3rd round of U.S. Open:

Denis Shapovalov soars into U.S. Open 3rd round

They completed the upset when Fernandez served to love in the final game and will next face Japan's Eri Hozumi and Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway.

Felix Auger-Aliassime was also a winner, advancing to the third round in men's singles action. The Montreal native defeated Russian Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in the night session.

The 25th-seeded Auger-Aliassime is set to face third-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany next.

WATCH | 

Felix Auger-Aliassime advances to 3rd round of U.S. Open for 1st time since 2021

Ottawa's Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe were also victorious in women's doubles action, defeating Czechia's Miriam Skoch and Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-0. The third-seeded duo will next face Quinn Gleason of the United States and Ingrid Martins of Brazil.

Meanwhile,