Taylor Townsend’s emotional journey at the US Open ended in heartbreak after a dramatic fourth-round battle where Barbora Krejcikova produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the tournament. The American, who had captured the hearts of fans in Queens, saw her hopes of a maiden grand slam singles quarter-final slip away despite holding eight match points.
The match began perfectly for Townsend, who dominated the opening set 6-1 with her fearless attacking game and relentless energy. With her four-year-old son AJ cheering from the stands, she seemed destined to make history. Yet the experience and resilience of Krejcikova came to the fore in a nerve-shredding second set.
Townsend created multiple opportunities to seal victory, but Krejcikova responded with steely composure. The Czech player saved her first match point in the 10th game of the second set, before producing an astonishing display in the tie-break. Recovering from 3-6 down, she fended off seven more match points, eventually converting her own third set point to take it 7-6(13).
The swing in momentum was devastating for Townsend, who sat in disbelief as her opponent took a break before the final set. On resumption, Krejcikova used the shift in energy to seize control, dictating rallies and breaking Townsend’s resistance. She sealed the deciding set 6-3, completing a 1-6, 7-6(13), 6-3 victory that will be remembered as one of her greatest escapes.
Townsend left the court in tears, covering her face with a towel as the crowd rose to applaud her efforts. The American’s run had already made headlines, particularly after her fiery clash with Jelena Ostapenko earlier in the tournament. Despite the crushing loss, Townsend’s resilience and captivating performances confirmed her as one of the standout stories of this year’s event.
“It just stings, because I literally gave everything,” Townsend admitted afterwards, acknowledging her opponent’s brilliance under pressure. “She came up with some really great tennis in the toughest moments, and I thought I had it.”
Krejcikova now advances to face another American, fourth seed Jessica Pegula. Pegula, a finalist last year, continued her dominant form with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ann Li, advancing to the last eight without dropping a set. With Pegula in imperious rhythm and Krejcikova brimming with belief, their upcoming clash promises another thrilling chapter at Flushing Meadows.
