Victoria Azarenka has reached the fourth round of the US Open after an eventful match with Angelique Kerber.

The number 11 seed began the match well and broke Azarenka's serve to race into a 5-2 lead, but the Belarusian responded by winning the next five games, breaking back twice, to secure the first set 7-5.

Kerber managed to regain her composure for the second set and secured an early break of the 20th seed and this time the German held out to seal the victory 6-2 to send the match into a deciding set.

Despite dominating the second set, Kerber tried to keep the momentum going into the third set but both players were held back by minor delays before restarting play.

The stoppage seemed to help Azarenka, as she regained her focus and began to match Kerber shot for shot in the early stages.

Azarenka then got the break as she went up 4-2 in the final set, after the German hit a return into the net during deuce.

Kerber saved as many as five match points as she fought hard to remain in the tournament, but Azarenka finally got the job done before the crowd applauded the efforts of both players.

Azarenka will face American Varvara Lepchenko in the next round, after she beat Mona Barthel in three sets earlier on Saturday.