NEW YORK (Reuters) - German Angelique Kerber triumphed in the battle of the former champions on Friday, downing Sloane Stephens 5-7 6-2 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the first time since 2018.

The 16th-seeded hadn't taken a set off of Stephens in their last five meetings and it looked as though history would repeat itself as Kerber committed 18 unforced errors and a double fault in the first set.