US Open: Barbora Krejcikova survives EIGHT match p...

Taylor Townsend’s dream US Open run got here to a heartbreaking finish as she didn’t convert eight match factors in opposition to former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova on Sunday.

The American has discovered herself as arguably the face of the primary week after her second-round opponent Jelena Ostapenko confronted her courtside and accused her of having no education and no class.

She used the furore with the Latvian as inspiration to propel her to a shock third-round victory over fifth seed Mirra Andreeva.

Together with her four-year-old son AJ within the crowd, Townsend appeared set to achieve a singles Grand Slam quarter-final for the primary time however Krejcikova by some means prevailed in a titanic second-set tie-break earlier than clinching a 1-6 7-6 (15-13) 6-3 victory.

Krejcikova struggled to comprise her feelings as she mentioned to the gang: “What a match. Simply 4 months in the past I used to be off the court docket, I could not play. I had an enormous ache in my again. I did not know if I am going to ever be again. Now right here I’m and that is enormous. I nonetheless can’t consider that I am standing right here.”

Townsend dominated the opening set and appeared poised to win the second as nicely, with Krejcikova saving her first match level within the tenth sport.

It was the tie-break that actually noticed the 29-year-old pull off her Houdini act, although, Krejcikova saving her finest for when it actually mattered to battle off seven extra match factors, recovering from 3-6 earlier than taking her third set level.

The Czech then took an off-court break, leaving Townsend sat on her chair questioning what may need been, and it was Krejcikova who had the momentum within the deciding set.

Townsend, who nonetheless has an opportunity in doubles, left the court docket in tears with a towel over her face to cheers from the packed stands on Louis Armstrong Stadium who had roared her on.

One other American subsequent for Krejcikova

Fourth seed Jessica Pegula walloped fellow American Ann Li to arrange a quarter-final date with Krejcikova on Tuesday.

Final 12 months’s runner-up Pegula didn’t have the pre-tournament run she needed, with early exits in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati, however had not dropped a set in New York and swatted Li apart 6-1 6-2 within the first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“In all probability one of the best match, truthfully, I’ve performed since earlier than Wimbledon I really feel like from the begin to end. In order that was encouraging,” mentioned Pegula, who picked up titles in Charleston, Unhealthy Homburg and Austin earlier this 12 months.

“Doing all the pieces nicely, executing my technique very nicely and bought by means of it fairly fast.”

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