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TIMOTHY A. CLARY / Getty Images
Taylor Townsend won a stunning surprise by beating No. 4 Simona Halep 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the second round of the American Open on Thursday.
Bleacher's report @Bleacher's report
WHAT A PAST
Taylor Townsend takes number 4 Simona Halep in the second round.
His first win against one of the top 10 #USOpen opponents https://t.co/9nB25E2wAv
Townsend, who has won three qualifying matches just for the draw, has persevered to win her last four games, even if she lost the first set each time.
She excelled Thursday largely because of her outstanding net-loss abilities, winning 64 of 106 points of the net for a 60% success rate.
WTA Insider @WTA_insider
Taylor Townsend:
Serve and steal the points earned:
Set 1: 2 of 7
Set 2: 9 of 14
Set 3: 26 of 40Net points:
Set 1: 9 of 16
Set 2: 15 of 26
Set 3: 40 of 64More than 100 clear approaches in the game.
#US Open
Halep, the singles 2019 singles champion at Wimbledon and the 2018 French Open, has competed in four of her last eleven major tournaments.
She did not encounter a lot of problems in the first set, winning 12 of her 14 points for the first serve and making only four non-forced errors on Townsend's 16 points.
The momentum however changed in the second set, as Townsend started to dominate the net. She won 15 points from Halep's net zero and won 70% of first-serve points against Halep's 59%. The southpaw also reduced non-forced errors, committing only seven.
US Open Tennis @US Open
We are moving towards a third …
Taylor Townsend is fighting to take the second set 6-3 over Simona Halep.
@TaylorTownsend | #USOpen https://t.co/kPJG6A48nU
Both players pushed the pressure up in a thrilling third set that saw Halep beat Townsend while she was serving for the match. Townsend scored a double-point in 5-4 in the third set, but made a double foul before Halep could equalize.
The set eventually went to a tiebreaker, and Townsend took over despite his 19 unforced errors in the last set. She scored a point in serving Halep with the tie break tied at four before serving to win 7-4.
in particular @in particular
TAYLOR TOWNSEND WITH THE INSTALLED ??
She is the first American to overthrow the reigning Wimbledon champion at the @USOpen since Serena in 2008. https://t.co/rC641HE7lt
Tumaini Carayol from guardian praised Townsend's dynamism for excelling at the net after not converting two match points:
Tumaini Carayol @tumcarayol
Taylor Townsend surprises one of the biggest setbacks of the tournament by beating Simona Halep 2-6 6-3 7-6 (4)
It took unbelievable courage to keep coming to the net after missing the double match point. Impressed.
Ben Rothenberg of New York Times also called the match a "breath of the past" given Townsend's net-pressed strategy.
The victory is all the more impressive considering Townsend's accomplishments.
ESPNOTW Townsend is the first American to have defeated reigning Wimbledon champion at the US Open since Serena Williams in 2008. ESPN's Pam Shriver also said on television that the win marked Townsend's first victory over an opponent from the top 10.
After the match, Townsend noted his intrepid attitude during his match against Halep, who had defeated she's in sets in each of their last three confrontations.
ESPN @espn
"… I think I played it not to lose, and today I just played to win. I said "f" it. "
@TaylorTownsend after upsetting Simona Halep at #USOpen https://t.co/7g44iA5qcO
"It means a lot, the trip was long," Taylor Townsend said after the match, via WTA Insider. "I've had some tough games this year and I have not managed to get through this game, which gives me so much confidence to know that I can do it.
"In the old days when I played it, I was just trying to do balls. I played so as not to lose. Today, I just play to win. I said 'it's good.' I do not think I can really say what was going on in my head because it is television. "
Townsend will face seeded Sorana Cirstea in the third round Saturday. This will be their first meeting.
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