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Townsend could do with trying to get the crowd back into this, she\u2019s (understandably) been rather subdued since the tie-break. Krejcikova holds to 30 and is pushing on Townsend\u2019s serve at 30-all. Townsend edges to 40-30, and then has the clarity of mind at the net to leave Krejcikova\u2019s shot, which flies well beyond the baseline. It\u2019s still on serve at 2-2.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Krejcikova cooly holds at the start of the third set. This is huge game coming up for Townsend \u2026 can she move on from the whirlwind of that breaker? The answer seems to to be no as she falls 0-30 behind, but then she shows real resolve to drag herself to 30-all and 40-30. \u201cRip and flick,\u201d her coach is urging. Not sure what he means there. But it seems to work, as she holds from deuce. It\u2019s 1-1 in the decider.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.06 EDT<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Of course so much of the narrative in this match is about Townsend, and what she\u2019s trying to achieve and what she\u2019s been through this tournament after she unwittingly became involved in that row with Ostapenko, but credit to Krejcikova, she showed there why she\u2019s a big-game player and why she\u2019s won two grand slam singles titles. What happens in the third set? It\u2019s a perilous job to predict it after the insanity of that second set, but I think Krejcikova has the edge given her experience and the fact Townsend looks absolutely shellshocked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.07 EDT<\/p>\n Set point No 4 for Krejcikova. Townsend misses her first serve \u2026 lands a weak second, which allows the Czech to take authority in the point, coming forward, before finally settling matters with a smash! We\u2019ve got ourselves another set of this! Yes please. 15-13 (!!!!!!!!!) was the final score.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.15 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026 Townsend\u2019s volley sets up an eighth match point. Fine reactions from the world No 1 in doubles. But remember, she\u2019s never made a slam quarter-final in singles before. Could this finally be the moment? No, because her return lands long. It\u2019s now 13-13. And time is turning into a giant flat circle \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 how has Krejcikova saved her best shots for the match points?! This is crazy. And utterly compulsive viewing. Here\u2019s a seventh match point for Townsend. She must barely be able to hear herself think such is the noise on Louis Armstrong. And Krejcikova swats away a forehand return winner! They change ends \u2013 again. And it\u2019s 12-12 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 now 10-9 to Krejcikova, so a third set point. Townsend aborts her ball toss on the serve, before hitting her first serve long. The second serve is wobbly, it\u2019s so short, Krejcikova steps in to punish it \u2026 and nets! Another unforced error from Krejcikova and it\u2019s 11-10 to Townsend, her sixth match point in this set and her fifth of the breaker. The crowd are imploring Townsend to get this done. But Krejcikova hits a superb sliced backhand volley and sticks it back behind the stumbling American! 11-11 \u2026<\/p>\n Barbora Krejcikova, of the Czech Republic, returns a shot against Taylor Townsend, of the United States. Photograph: Pamela Smith\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.08 EDT<\/p>\n At 8-8, a long baseline exchange plays out, and Krejcikova is apologising to Townsend when her backhand flicks the net and lands for a winner. The Czech has her second set point. But she rams into the tramlines! She really should have landed that. Again they change ends. It\u2019s 9-9 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 but Townsend, once again finds a way to regroup, and jams Krejcikova with a body serve. MP No 5 at 7-6. The crowd are cheering. They think Krejcikova\u2019s backhand has flown wide. But it\u2019s in by just 14mm!!! So we go again. It\u2019s 7-7. Krejcikova shows ridiculous reflexes at the net and even the American crowd are applauding. Townsend isn\u2019t. She\u2019s rolling her eyes. Now Krejcikova has her first set point at 8-7 \u2026. but she nets! And. We. Go. On.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some more net-bashing from Krejcikova and Townsend leads 4-3 \u2013 the American now has the mini-break \u2013 and she consolidates it for 5-3! She\u2019s now two points away. Make that one! It\u2019s 6-3! So here comes the biggest point of her singles career. Or at least the biggest point since that missed match point at 5-4 in this set. She can\u2019t take it. Nor the second mp. Nor the third, as her shot skids just wide of the sideline. Somehow, Krejcikova has got it back to 6-6 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Louis Armstrong is rocking when Townsend wins the opening point. Krejcikova comes back with the next two points, on her serve. The Czech then takes advantage of Townsend\u2019s tentativeness in coming forward, threading a pass beyond the despairing American. So Krejcikova has the first mini-break for 3-2 \u2026 but a messy shot into the net and it\u2019s 3-3 at the changeover \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A here\u2019s another jarring shift in momentum, as Townsend gets to 15-30 \u2026 and then 30-40 with a forehand down the line that Krejcikova can\u2019t get back into play! Win this break point and Townsend has got herself a tie-break \u2026 which she does when Krejcikova scoops her backhand long! That match point won\u2019t hurt quite so much now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend, not surprisingly given that missed match point, is struggling to reset. She slips 0-30 down on serve. And then 15-40. She pulls out of her ball toss on the break point, before missing with the first serve. She makes the second, but her feet look heavy, and they barely move to retrieve Krejcikova\u2019s punchy return. Krejcikova, from match point down, will serve for the second set at 6-5. How quickly a match can turn.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.26 EDT<\/p>\n The perfect start for Townsend as she seizes the opening point on Krejcikova\u2019s serve. Or rather, the Czech gifts it to her with an errant forehand. And there\u2019s another! 0-30. Krejcikova comes back for 30-all; this time her forehand hits the spot. But Townsend\u2019s backhand down the line draws the error from Krejcikova! The American has a match point \u2026 but a brave one-two punch from Krejcikova saves it. Deuce. Game Krejcikova. The Czech is screaming as if she\u2019s won the match. It\u2019s 6-1, 5-5.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back to Louis Armstrong, where Townsend, at 6-1, 4-4, 40-0, is on the cusp of something very special. And an unreturned serve settles the game! Townsend is a game away from the greatest achievement of her singles career.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure what more Rinderknech could have done there. He played as well as he could have, but he simply doesn\u2019t have the superpowers and other-wordly shot-making skills of Alcaraz. Though to be fair, who does? Not even Sinner. Sinner\u2019s style is more metronomic consistency.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A beaming Alcaraz tells the crowd how much he loves entertaining them. \u201cI think my style of tennis suits the energy here in New York. That\u2019s why I play my best tennis here,\u201d he says. He reckons he still needs to work on his golf swing though. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look that good on the golf course, to be honest,\u201d he jokes when asked about his celebration.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.11 EDT<\/p>\n Alcaraz beats Rinderknech 7-6, 6-3, 6-4<\/p>\n Alcaraz, having generously allowed Rinderknech to hold four times in the third set, decides it\u2019s time to finish things off, magicking an outrageous forehand winner from Rinderknech\u2019s smash for 0-30 at 4-4! And the break inevitably follows. Alcaraz accelerates to 40-15 on his own serve, two match points, and he needs just the one. Cue his now customary golf swing celebration. He may not be the defending champion, but he\u2019s the king of New York on this form. For me, he\u2019s edged ahead of Sinner to become the favourite. Four matches in, he still hasn\u2019t dropped a set and probably won\u2019t have too many sleepless nights about facing Lehecka next in the last eight.<\/p>\n Carlos Alcaraz of Spain acknowledges the crowd after defeating Arthur Rinderknech of France. Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.13 EDT<\/p>\n Townsend whips the crowd into a New York frenzy as she breaks with a perfectly placed lob! At 6-1, 3-1, that first slam singles quarter-final is getting much closer \u2026 can she see this over the line? She manages a wry smile after bashing into the net when the point was there for the taking \u2026 but she\u2019s glaring when Krejcikova secures a break point at 30-40. Townsend moves forward \u2026 and this time courageously nails a backhand drive volley winner, similar to the one she missed a few points ago. Deuce. But she then coughs up a double fault to hand the break back. They\u2019re back on serve at 6-1, 3-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The best part of 14,000 spectators sigh as Townsend slices into the net. From 40-0 up, it\u2019s deuce. The American\u2019s serve isn\u2019t quite popping as it was, and it\u2019s putting her under more pressure in the points. Townsend then drags wide and Krejcikova has her first break point of the match. Townsend will be furious with herself if she loses this game given the lead she had. A smart serve out wide and Krejcikova nets. And Townsend escapes with the hold. She\u2019s 6-1, 2-1 ahead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n From 30-all, Alcaraz flicks the switch once again with a lights-out shot. 40-30. Game. Krejcikova, meanwhile, is refusing to, um, Czech out in the second set, and battles her way to her first hold since the opening game of the match. It\u2019s 1-1 in the second, after Townsend took the first 6-1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another ridiculous point from Alcaraz \u2013 if there\u2019s any space left on the match showreel \u2013 and he gets a break point in the opening game of the third set. But Rinderknech regroups. And holds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcaraz, meanwhile, is vamosing as he serves out the second set to 15, taking it 6-4. He\u2019s two-thirds of the way to a quarter-final against Lehecka.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n With a two-break lead, Townsend has the freedom to go for every shot, and blasts two winners for 0-30. She combines that with a delicate drop shot for 0-40, three set points. And they\u2019ve only been going 28 minutes. And Krejcikova nets! Townsend is 6-1 up and already just a set away from a first grand slam singles quarter-final! The crowd are screaming but she\u2019s not smiling; she\u2019s got her game face on. She\u2019s focused on getting this job done.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.18 EDT<\/p>\n Townsend, from 1-1, has got herself not one break but two. She leads 4-1. And will serve for a 5-1 lead. Unsurprisingly, there\u2019s barely a spare seat in the house on Louis Armstrong. Townsend is looking so assured in only the second fourth-round singles match she\u2019s ever played at a major; Krejcikova is cracking, with 14 unforced errors and only two winners. Townsend holds to 15 for 5-1.<\/p>\n Taylor Townsend returns. Photograph: Pamela Smith\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.26 EDT<\/p>\n From the sublime to the ridiculous for Alcaraz, as he promptly falls break point down at 30-40. But, just as he did in the first set, he finds a way, and gets to deuce. Rinderknech gets a second bp from there, but a big serve out wide saves it. Two quickfire points and Alcaraz holds for 7-6, 5-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Given their doubles pedigree, neither player will hesitate to come to the net in this match, and Krejcikova steps forward to settle the point to edge to her advantage in the third game. But Townsend takes the Czech back to deuce, just as Alcaraz decides it\u2019s time to set off the fireworks on Ashe, moving to 0-15, 0-30, 0-40 with some sparkling hitting. Alcaraz thunders down a smash on the second break point to lead Rinderknech 7-6, 4-2. Even by the 2023 champ\u2019s lofty standards, that was some game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Krejcikova opens with a hold. Townsend responds with one of her own. \u201cIt\u2019s been quite a journey to get here,\u201d Lindsay Davenport says of Townsend on the commentary. \u201cBeing a single mother, trying to practice, travel the world. She sustained a concussion at the Miami Open and couldn\u2019t play through to Roland Garros.\u201d Despite these challenges Townsend is the world No 1 in women\u2019s doubles, having won the Australian Open this year and Wimbledon last year, though Krejcikova\u2019s doubles feats trump that \u2013 she has 10 major titles, to add to her two won in singles.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Emma Navarro and Mirra Andreeva Barbora Krejcikova and Taylor Townsend are just getting going on Louis Armstrong. I\u2019m looking forward to this one: both have such intelligent games and both will be feeling confident after dumping out the 10th and fifth seeds respectively in the third round. Of course Townsend has been one of the central figures at this tournament, after being accused of having \u201cno education\u201d and \u201cno class\u201d by Jelena Ostapkenko in their second-round match, which prompted accusations of racism. If anything the storm has fuelled Townsend. Her performance against Andreeva was one of the best in her career. And victory today would put her in the quarter-finals of her home major \u2013 in fact any major \u2013 for the first time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 a wicked second serve from Alcaraz helps make it 5-2. He\u2019s making his challenger pay for that double. And a backhand error from Rinderknech hands Alcaraz four set points at 6-2. Rinderknech hits his first winner of the breaker, but it\u2019s come too late, as Alcaraz wraps it up 7-3 on the next point. For all of Rinderknech\u2019s resistance in the first set, his double fault in the breaker gifted the momentum to Alcaraz, who comes through his toughest set of the tournament so far.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 and a flick of the wrist from Alcaraz as he improvises with a forehand pass! Cue a smile almost as big as the Arthur Ashe Stadium. And then he thunders a forehand for 4-2 at the change of ends \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Refreshed, I\u2019m not sure. I feel as if I\u2019m suffering from a post-dinner slump. And Alcaraz is in a slump too as he unexpectedly nets to hand over a mini-break. Rinderknech leads 2-1 in the breaker. But the Frenchman double faults at the most inopportune of moments and hands the mini-break straight back. So it\u2019s 2-2\u2026.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Righto, that\u2019s me did; here\u2019s Katy, refreshed and back to chill with you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A lush volley, leaping towards the sideline, gives Alcaraz 40-15 \u2013 and he probably didn\u2019t need to play it, Rinderknech\u2019s attempted pass falling long. But at 40-30 there\u2019s a bit of pressure, then a bit more when he serves into the net \u2026 for all he cares. A massive forehand, a hold, and a first-set tiebreaker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rindderknech holds for 6-5, then makes 0-15 \u2026 only for Alcaraz to land a backhand right in the corner. Even he wasn\u2019t sure that\u2019d stayed in, but in the event it was perfect.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lehecka is delighted and especially pleased with how he came back after losing set three and going a break down in four. He\u2019s now up to 15 in the live world rankings and says breaking the top 20 was one of his main objectives for the year.<\/p>\n When not playing tennis, he enjoys emptying his mind on the golf course, but really his hobby is spending time with the people he loves as he\u2019s away 40 weeks of the year. I daresay, though, he won\u2019t mind being in New York for just a little longer; we\u2019ll see him again on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alcraz looks like he should be in the keep fit class at the start of Back to the Future. He holds comfortably for 5-5.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Next on Armstrong: Barbora Krejcikova v Taylor Townsend.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Jiri Lehecka (20) beats Adrian Mannarino7-4(4) 6-4 2-6 6-2<\/p>\n Lehecka seals it with an ace and moves on to face Alcaraz or Rinderknech.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Very nice from Rinderknech who, at 30-all, takes so much pace off his serve that Alcaraz is through his shot too early, then produces a swerving, high-kicking, second-serve ace. At 4-5, Alcaraz must now serve to stay in set one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A brutal forehand to the corner gives Lehecka 0-15, he breaks to love, and at 7-6 6-4 2-6 5-2 will shortly serve for the match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another hold for Alcaraz, and at 4-4 in set one, we\u2019re moving into the pressure zone. Can Rinderknech maintain his level?<\/p>\n Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns to Arthur Rinderknech of France. Photograph: Maddie Meyer\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.28 EDT<\/p>\n Oh, and Lehecka then breaks again for 3-2. After a pretty prolonged wobble, he\u2019s not three holds away from the last eight \u2013 where he\u2019d meet Alcaraz or Rinderknech.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back on Armstrong, Lehecka might just\u2019ve got himself going again, breaking Mannarino back before holding for 2-1 2-2. Mannarino is one of those players with a pretty decent top level, but who lacks the power to get by when not hitting it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Now then. Rinderknech makes 0-15, then monsters a second serve back down the line, running around his backhand; Alcaraz can\u2019t get away with landing the ball so short. And the Frenchman forces his way into the next rally with another terrific return, only this time he goes wide thereafter, before netting a volley, again when well in the rally. From there, Alcaraz secures his hold, and we\u2019re at 3-3 in a really absorbing third set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.08 EDT<\/p>\n Oh man! Alcaraz plays a rubbishy drop, guesses which side Rindereknech will thump his clean-up, and though he\u2019s right, runs past it. So he thrusts his racket behind his back, back the way he came \u2026 and somehow he makes a winner! What a ludicrous individual he is, and he creases at his own magnificence. It confirms his latest hold, and we\u2019re 2-2 in the first, Lehecka leading Mannarino 2-1 0-2 on Armstrong.<\/p>\n