Tennis stars Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka have strolled into the fourth round of the US Open as have Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka, Sabine Lisicki and Simona Halep.
Andy Murray Photo: PHOTOSPORT
But the big guns had to share the Flushing Meadows spotlight with tenacious underdogs Donald Young and Johanna Konta.
Second seed Federer took another step towards a sixth title with an efficient 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber, while third seed Murray followed him into the fourth round with a clinical 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.
It was another leisurely afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium court for Federer, who has yet to drop a set, though he lost his serve for the first time in the tournament as Kohlschreiber broke him twice.
Federer, who had sprinted through his first two matches with the loss of only nine games, next meets big-serving American 13th seed John Isner, who advanced when Czech Jiri Vesely retired with a neck injury when trailing 6-3 6-4.
"I think I won the big points today," said 34-year-old Federer. "I served well when I had to at the end."
Federer's Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka also took the quick route following Federer into the last 16 by breezing past Belgian Ruben Bemelmans 6-3 7-6 6-4.
Richard Gasquet also wasted little time, the 12th seeded Frenchman romping to a 6-4 6-3 6-1 decision over a drained Australian Bernard Tomic, who was coming off a gruelling five set battle with compatriot Lleyton Hewitt.
Halep worked the night shift for the first time at this slam and found it to her liking as she steamrolled past American Shelby Rogers 6-2 6-3 in 67 minutes.
It was a mixed day for German contenders as Victoria Azarenka of Belarus beat 11th seed Angelique Kerber 7-5 2-6 6-4, though Sabine Lisicki advanced, beating Czech Barbora Strycova 6-4 4-6 7-5.
Konta continued to enjoy her time in the spotlight as the British qualifier beat 18th seed Andrea Petkovic 7-6(2) 6-3 to reach the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time.
Johanna Konta Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It was the second upset in as many matches for the 24-year-old who toiled for three hours and 23 minutes in searing heat on Thursday to beat eighth seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza.
The sun returned on Sunday but again it was Konta's opponent feeling the heat, with Petkovic calling a medical timeout after going down a set and 3-0 in the second and wrapped in ice towels before finishing out the match.
"To be honest, I feel just as I did two weeks ago, I haven't exactly grown wings or anything," said Konta, ranked No.97.
"I must say I'm happy with how I have been playing so far this week but my feet are firmly on the ground.
"I haven't cured cancer or anything."
Konta will next meet fifth seeded Czech Petra Kvitova, who had no problem with the heat or her opponent, the twice Wimbledon champion crushing Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2 6-1.
One of just two players to beat world number one Serena Williams this season, Kvitova arrived at Flushing Meadows in good form having claimed her third title of the season at New Haven in the final tuneup for the US Open.
Young, once hailed as the next great American tennis player, is finally showing that potential at 26 to an excited hometown audience fighting back from two sets down to claim a 4-6 0-6 7-6 6-2 6-4 victory over 22nd seed Viktor Troicki of Serbia.
Young has had a workout this week, escaping another two-sets deficit in his opening match to beat French 11th seed Gilles Simon 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4, then beating Britain's Aljaz Bedene in four sets in the second round.
Meanwhile, the Canadian 25th-seed Eugenie Bouchard has withdrawn from the doubles and mixed doubles events after falling in the locker room and sustaining a head injury, tournament officials said.
Eugenie Bouchard Photo: PHOTOSPORT
No decision has been made yet on whether the 21-year-old will have to also withdraw from the singles competition.
"The medical staff has recommended that Ms. Bouchard withdraw from today's competitions, and Ms. Bouchard is following that advice," tournament director David Brewer said in a statement.
"No determination about competing in the singles competition has been made at this time.
"Ms Bouchard will continue with the medical evaluation and treatment for the remainder of the day."
Bouchard was scheduled to take on Italy's Roberta Vinci for a spot in the quarter-finals of the year's final grand slam.
She and partner Elena Vesnina were slated to play a second round doubles match against the American duo of Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears.
Bouchard was also scheduled to partner with Australian bad boy Nick Kyrgios against Martina Hingis and Leander Paes in mixed doubles.
