'It just stings': Tearful Taylor Townsend surrenders EIGHT match points to bow out in US Open epic
- Christian Montegan
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
In what will go down as one of the matches of the tournament, a tearful Taylor Townsend failed to capitalise on eight match points as she exited the US Open fourth round.
After dominating the opening set in a 6-1 romping, Townsend had one foot in a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final against two-time major champion Barbora Krejčíková.
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Fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium stood on their feet to cheer on America's Townsend when she earned her first match point in the 10th game of set two, but her Czech opponent was far from done.
In an epic 28-point second set tiebreak, Townsend squandered a further seven match points, including a 6-3 lead, to hand Krejčíková a lifeline.
From there, the mental scars were too much to overcome for the doubles No.1, as Krejčíková sealed a 1-6, 7-6(13), 6-3 victory.
"To be honest, I'm totally enjoying this crowd. Even though it's not for me, it's for the Americans, it's fine," said former world No.2 Krejčíková, who must get past another American, Jessica Pegula, for a spot in the last four.
Townsend, 29, departed Centre Court in tears with her towel covering her face.
Despite the disappointment, she tried to put the bitter loss into perspective.
"It just stings, because I literally gave everything," Townsend said. "She came up with some really, really great tennis in moments where she was down, and I thought I had it."
Townsend's second round match against Jeļena Ostapenko stole headlines, after the latter demanded an apology from the American for winning a point with the help of a net cord, suggesting she has "no class and no education".
As her outburst drew criticism and links to racism, the former French Open winner issued an apology on Instagram.
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