World No.1 Karolina Pliskova has survived a scare to advance to the third round of the US Open with a comeback win against local favourite Nicole Gibbs.
Czech Pliskova, who reached the final at Flushing Meadows last year, was on the back foot against Gibbs before finding her range on serve in the 2-6 6-3 6-4 win on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"In the second set I started to serve better and get easy points with my first serve, which was much needed," Pliskova said.
"I'm happy I managed to get through."
She next faces Chinese 27th seed Zhang Shuai, who easily accounted for Japan's Risa Ozaki 6-0 6-3.
Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina powered into the third round with a 6-4 6-4 win against Russian Evgeniya Rodina.
The 22-year-old, who had also reached the third round at Flushing Meadows in the previous two years, was barely troubled by her 89th-ranked opponent in a sun-kissed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Svitolina lost focus in the second set at 5-2 when she allowed Rodina to pull a break back, but she held her following service game to wrap up the victory on the first match point with a backhand winner.
She next faces either American Shelby Rogers, who won an epic contest against 25th-seeded Australian Daria Gavrilova 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 7-6 (7-5).
Past US Open Svetlana Kuznetsova became the fourth world No1. contender to exit the draw when she was beaten by Japan's Kurumi Nara 6-3 3-6 6-3.
It was world No.116 Nara's first win against a top-10 ranked opponent and Kuznetsova's exit means five of the top eight women in the field are already gone.
The Russian joins No.2 Simona Halep, No.5 Caroline Wozniacki, No.6 Angelique Kerber and No.7 Johanna Konta in being bundled out before the third round.
Poland's 10th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska overcame Yulia Putintseva 7-5 6-2 and will meet CoCo Vandeweghe next after the American 20th seed beat Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 7-6 (8-6) 6-2.
It was a good day for local hopes with 15th-seeded Madison Keys beating Tatjana Maria 6-3 6-4 while Jennifer Brady upset 23rd seed Barbora Strycova 6-1 6-1.
French Open champion and 12th seed Jelena Ostapenko beat Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-4.
Other second round winners on Thursday were Naomi Osaka, Monica Niculescu, Daria Kasatkina and Kaia Kanepi.
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