Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

You only need to phone up Petra Kvitova to know how tough Venus Williams is up the stretch of a tight match.

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on 5 live sports extra at Flushing Meadows

Venus Wiliams is stung once again as she comes into the net on Sloane Stephens backhand side once again on that final point.

Stephens is looking very steady, but being broken is not exactly unknown at this stage of a match.

Image source, Getty Images

Rose Richards: Please pause for a moment, I think I need to visit my cardiologist.

This time, not even the fleet-footed Stephens can find the turn of pace to catch up with a screaming Venus winner from mid-court.

But it's advantage Stephens again as Williams is worn down by the younger American, who earns another break point. And takes it! Williams can't throw a long enough limb at a dipping Stephens return and it drops the wrong side of the net for the 37-year-old.

Image source, Getty Images

Somehow, somehow Sloane Stephens reaches a huge Williams forehand that looked to be disappearing down a Queens side street. She slices is back from almost behind her and a bewildered Venus shoots wide.

Incredible defence again from Stephens as she palms back a flurry of Williams volleys before one drops long. Break point.

Williams has Stephens dashing across the baseline in a flash of pink, but she's keeping up with the fuzz and forcing Williams to use every inch of the court to find winners.

The ninth seed lines up the white in her sight, and takes fire. Perfect. Deuce.

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

It has been a struggle for the server in every game of this set so far.

That's brave, aggressive tennis from Stephens to rescue two break points. Williams comes to the net and can't handle the pace of Stephens' dipping forehand.

The world number 83 takes a few moments to catch her breath, and then floors a cracking serve down the T line to hold.

Sensational from Venus Williams. She takes on Sloane Stephens from behind the baseline with a powerful passing forehand that leaves the younger American rooted to the spot. A doff of the cap in appreciation. Two break points.

Jeff Tarango
Former professional tennis player on 5 live sports extra at Flushing Meadows

Venus' original gameplan to come to the net has been foiled by Sloane Stephens' excellent backhand pass.

Williams has had to had to revert to Plan B, sticking to the back of the court and trying to beat the younger woman from the baseline.

Image source, Getty Images

Uptown Girl is ringing out around the Arthur Ashe Stadium between ends. That brings back painful karaoke memories.

Venus Williams is hitting a more tuneful note at the minute, as a Sloane Stephens forehand drifts long and the 37-year-old follows up with a ferocious array of groundstrokes to go 0-30 up.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

It was an almighty battle, in which she saved a break point, but Venus Williams has strung together three straight games.

What does being a break point down call for? An ace. The third of the match for Venus, who follows up with some amateur gymnastic-style pirouetting towards the net to twist herself into position for a backhand volley winner.

After all that excitement, she double faults. Sighs ring out around Ashe, but they're quickly replaced by cheers as Williams holds to win her third game on the trot.

Stephens is forced to just loft some hefty Williams strokes into the air like a volleying practice session. She survives. Williams gets an overhead smash all wrong and sends it a good five feet or so long.

Now it's the youngster forcing her older compatriot to do the running. Williams goes long again. Break point.

Image source, Reuters

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

The crowd are delighted to see Venus Williams back on level terms and, for all that scurrying defence in the last two service games, Sloane Stephens finds herself pegged back.

It is first-to-four tennis for a place in the US Open final.

No mistake from Williams this time. She forces Stephens wide and the world number 83 miskews her return.

Image source, Reuters

Three break points saved from Sloane Stephens. She soaks up Venus' rasping backhands before watching thankfully as another drops into the net.

But Venus turns the screw, and it's Stephens' turn to flirt with net. Another break point for Williams.

Stephens salvages the first and Williams can only muster an effort into tape.

Now there's some confusion. A line judge calls a deep Williams response long, Stephens plays on as it looked good... and it was. We'll have to replay the point. Williams shakes her head in disbelief. And loses the rerun. 30-40.

Drifting, dancing, gliding its way to the line, and just clipping. A wonderful return from Venus Williams and she takes control of the Stephens service game. Three break points.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

Venus Williams holds from 0-30 and is on the board. The start of this third set has been a very exciting passage of play after being bewildered by the topsy-turvy momentum in the first two sets.