Five Top 10 players — and No. 11 Marta Kostyuk — were all in action at the US Open on Friday, with mixed fortunes. While World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula were winning their third-round matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, the grounds were also packed with a lot more action.

2024 US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro scored the biggest upset of the Flushing Meadows fortnight so far by beating No. 7 seed Karolina Muchova and No. 21 seed Anna Kalinskaya knocked out No. 9 seed Elina Svitolina while Wimbledon champion and No. 6 seed Linda Noskova – survived a game effort from American No. 29 seed Ann Li.

Here’s how it all went down. 

Kostyuk returns to Round of 16

Kostyuk def. Alexandrova, 6-3, 6-2

How it unfolded: Kostyuk largely had things her own way against Alexandrova, against whom she had previously been 0-2.

She raced out to a 5-1 lead in the first set before eventually securing it, and won six straight games from 2-0 down to reach the US Open fourth round for the second year in a row.

‘Over the moon’ Navarro scores third Top 10 win of comeback

Navarro def. (7) Muchova 6-3, 7-5

How it unfolded: Navarro won the last three games in each set to beat Muchova in their first career head-to-head meeting, in what marked Muchova’s earliest exit at the US Open in four years.

Navarro now owns nine career Top 10 wins, but only two of those have come at the US Open. She also defeated then-defending champion Coco Gauff on her way to the semifinals two years ago, and said she was “over the moon” to score another upset — this time, against a two-time US Open semifinalist — in front of her home crowd.

“She’s a great player and has had a great year this year. A lot of really good results. I knew it would be tough today. She has a more unique game style on the WTA tour. Definitely unique matchup. But I enjoyed it. I had fun playing today. I’m looking forward to playing again in a few days.” 

Noskova denies determined Li, Court 17 crowd

(6) Noskova def. (29) Li 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-2

How it unfolded: Things were not looking all that complicated for Noskova in her first head-to-head meeting against Li over the first hour or so on Court 17 as she built a 6-2, 3-0 lead.

But as her forehand soon went wayward, it allowed Li the confidence to step into her own to erase what was a double-break advantage. The American, a fourth-round performer in Flushing last year, saved a match point with a forehand winner at 6-5 in the tiebreak, and clocked another on the run to extend the match two points later. But after the first four games of the third set went with serve — which saw Li erase two break points in her hold for 2-2 — Noskova won the last four games with key play in the clutch. 

Three of the last four games went to deuce, and Noskova saved a break point to extend her lead to 5-2.

“It was such a tough match from the beginning to the very end. A lot of things happened throughout all the three sets, but I’m glad I pulled out the win,” Noskova said afterwards. “I somehow pulled it off, and I’m happy and very relieved.”

Through to the Round of 16 in New York for the first time, Noskova will face Kostyuk in a rematch of their Wimbledon semifinal.

Kalinskaya through to US Open fourth round for the first time

(21) Kalinskaya def. (9) Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-3

How it unfolded: After the pair split the first two sets, it was Svitolina who broke first in the deciding set to take a 3-2 lead. However, Kalinskaya won four straight games to close out a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory in 1 hour, 52 minutes.

With the win, the 27-year-old advanced to the round of 16 at the US Open for the first time. She has now reached the second week at all four Grand Slam tournaments, having previously done so at the 2024 Australian Open and Wimbledon and the 2026 French Open.

Kalinskaya’s three wins in New York mark the first time she has won three matches at a tournament since the French Open. It was also her second victory over Svitolina in six career meetings.

She next faces Navarro, against whom she has won both of their previous meetings, including their round-of-32 clash in Doha earlier this year.