US Open 2015 tennis news: Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal return to action on third day

Novak DjokovicReuters

Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal will be headlining Day Three of the 2015 U.S. Open, which will be held on Sept. 2, as they look to make it past their Round 2 opponents to inch closer to the championship. 

Men's world number one Djokovic cruised through his Round 1 test, which lasted only 71 minutes, defeating Brazil's João Souza in straight sets 6–1 6–1 6–1 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York last Monday.

Following the victory, Djokovic said, "With a dominant win like the one today, it adds to your confidence, your self-belief. It's also making a statement for everybody that is out there watching. We are all seeing how each other progresses."

Meanwhile his Round 2 foe, Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer, did not have the same fate during his Round 1 match. 

Haider-Maurer had to survive a tough test in Canada's Vasek Pospisil whom he overcame 6–4 3–6 6–7(0) 6–0 6–1. 

The 28-year-old tennis player who is ranked number 52 will try to score an upset in just his second Round 2 appearance at the U.S. Open. 

Djokovic vs. Haider-Maurer will take place at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at 7 p.m. EST. 

Another world number one will be featured in Day Three this time in the women's singles as Williams faces Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands. 

It only took Williams 30 minutes to make it past the first round as her opponent, Russian Vitalia Diatchenko, retired ending the match 6–0 2–0. 

Despite what happened, the 33-year-old tennis star still commended Diatchenko for competing even though she was hurt. 

"I told her I was proud of her for coming out and making this effort, knowing she was injured. That's a great effort," Williams said, according to BBC Sport. 

Meanwhile, to advance to the second round, Bertens defeated veteran Croatian Mirjana Lučić-Baroni 3–6 6–4 6–2. 

Williams will look to fend off the younger Bertens and move ahead when they play at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at 11 a.m. EST. 

Men's world number eight Nadal will also see Round 2 action in Day Three and will play against Argentina's Diego Schwartzman after being pushed to the limit in his Round 1 matchup. 

Nadal faced 18-year-old Croatian Borna Ćorić in the first round and was challenged, but still was able to push through 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4 for the victory. 

Nadal said, according to BBC Sport, that he had a great start against Ćorić and was playing well in the first two sets before he started to get tired. 

"The conditions here are very humid, I am sweating a lot and in those conditions I suffer a bit. I was able to play aggressive in the fourth. He is an amazing player and has a great future," the 29-year-old player added. 

Nadal's Round 2 opponent, Schwartzman, made it past the first round after beating Sweden's Elias Ymer 6–3 6–2 6–2. 

Their match will be played at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York at 11 a.m. EST.