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The Latest: No. 1 Nadal through to US Open quarterfinals

Posted September 02, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns a shot to Nikoloz Basilashvili, of Georgia, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):

3:40 p.m.

Rafael Nadal is back in the U.S. Open quarterfinals after beating Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4.

The defending champion will next face No. 9 seed Dominic Thiem. That will be a rematch of Nadal's victory in the French Open final and will be their first meeting not on clay.

The top-ranked Spaniard improved to 8-2 in fourth-round matches in the U.S. Open, rebounding from dropping the tiebreaker in the third set Sunday to break the Georgian's serve twice in the fourth set.

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1:55 p.m.

Dominic Thiem has eliminated 2017 U.S. Open finalist Kevin Anderson with a 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (2) victory in the fourth round.

Anderson was hoping to earn a rematch with Rafael Nadal, who beat him last year in the final at Flushing Meadows. The No. 5 seed had also reached the Wimbledon final this year.

Instead it's the ninth-seeded Thiem could play the top-ranked Nadal in the quarterfinals. That would be a rematch of this year's French Open final, won by Nadal.

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11:40 a.m.

Serena Williams felt she played her best match since her return to tennis while routing her sister in the last round.

She'll need to be sharp again, with Kaia Kanepi looking to knock out another women's tennis star.

Williams and Kanepi meet in a fourth-round match Sunday, when defending U.S. Open champions Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens also are in action.

Serena, seeded 17th, routed Venus 6-1, 6-2 Friday in matching the most-lopsided victory in the Williams sisters' series. That put her into the match against Kanepi, the 44th-ranked Estonian who upset top-ranked Simona Halep in the first round and is seeking her second consecutive quarterfinal in Flushing Meadows.

Nadal faces Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia and a victory for the top-ranked player could set up a quarterfinal matchup with No. 5 seed Kevin Anderson, whom he beat for last year's title.

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More AP tennis coverage: https://www.apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Dominic Thiem, of Austria, reacts after winning a point against Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) The Associated Press

Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, returns a shot Dominic Thiem, of Austria, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) The Associated Press

Serena Williams hits a backhand to Venus Williams during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) The Associated Press

Kaia Kanepi, of Estonia, celebrates after defeating Rebecca Peterson, of Sweden, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) The Associated Press

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