Key events<\/p>\n
Next on Armstrong: Marta Kostyuk (11) v Linda Noskova (6). I can\u2019t wait for this one.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n By the way, it can\u2019t be only me singing this every time anyone mentions Alexandras Eala.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend\u2019s charging the net whenever possible, daring Sabalenka to pass her, which makes a lot of sense \u2013 the champ isn\u2019t at her best, so pretty much has to go for the shots, because she knows the doubles volleying isn\u2019t to be messed with. She holds \u2013 I know! \u2013 for 1-0 in set two having lost the first.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.33 EDT<\/p>\n Harri Heliovaara\/Henry Patten beats Matteo Arnaldi\/Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5 6-2<\/p>\n A comprehensive win. Next for them: Lammons\/Withrow or Cabral\/Tracy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend makes 15-30; pressure for Sabalenka, who responds well, with a service winner, then makes 40-30. Oh, but have a look, the American taking a return early and hooking it line into the corner for deuce \u2026 only for the champ to power through it, a thumping forehand securing a 6-4 opening set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I was sad to hear what Oor Maddy had to say about her struggles following her defeat to Qinwen Zheng having burned a 5-0 final-set lead.<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cI feel like I got off to a really good lead and then I just got really scared. I felt like I couldn\u2019t swing. Tennis just feels really hard right now. I feel like that kind of took over.<\/p>\n \u201cI think my level dropped and she started to play better. I just feel like I\u2019ve kind of been struggling for a while now and I feel like I was able to play through it for a bit. I\u2019m sure everyone could kind of see that I was struggling a bit. Inside it\u2019s felt probably even bigger than that. Some weeks are easier than others. This week is obviously one of the harder ones just because you care so much. I\u2019m gonna have to make some sort of changes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s been something that\u2019s been building for a while. I just kind of keep pushing it off and pushing it off because that\u2019s how the tennis world works. It\u2019s just to the point where I actually need to do something about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Elite sport is hard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend holds for the first time \u2013 Sablenka has only done so once too \u2013 forcing the champ to serve for the set at 5-4. Meantime, on Armstrong, Patten\/Heliovaara are a game away at 7-5 5-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.21 EDT<\/p>\n Townsend does, though, make 0-30 \u2026 then 0-40, and when Sabalenka nets a forehand, she has one break back. That really was a nonsense game from the champ, who can play so much better than she has this year.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Yeah, I\u2019m afraid this is going as predicted now, Sabalenka just too good. She breaks again for 5-2 \u2013 Townsend has yet to hold \u2013 and is now serving for the first set at 5-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sabalenka breaks again and this time looks determined to consolidate; she does, as Heliovaara\/Patten break Arnaldi\/Struff for 7-5 3-1. The no 1 seeds are desperate to win this event, and it won\u2019t be easy to stop them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend is going for it on return, hitting hard and looking to come in to use the volleying she\u2019s honed playing doubles. She breaks back for a second time and looks to be enjoying the occasion.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Again, though, Sabalenka breaks the Townsend serve. She leads 2-1 and, though I\u2019m going against the experts who expected a tight match, I don\u2019t really see how she can win this. Sabalenka\u2019s bottom level is just too high for her.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Two banging winners take Townsend to 0-30, as Heliovaara\/Patten make 0-40 and three set points thanks to some sloppy stuff from Arnaldo\/Struff \u2026 and take the second to secure a 7-5 lead. Meantime, Sabalenka is now down 15-40, sends down a double, and we\u2019re back level at 1-1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Heliovaara\/Patten hold for 6-5 in the first, forcing Arnaldi\/Struff to serve for a breaker, while Sabalenka burns various break points in game one before Townsend goes long hitting down the line on forehand. A statement start from the champ.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Taylor the Crow.<\/p>\n Photograph: Eduardo Mu\u00f1oz\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend, by the way, has her own pop-up shop.<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re 4-4 in the doubles and knocking up on Ashe. Thinking more about the match, I\u2019d expect Townsend to use top spin to hit cross at Sabalenka\u2019s backhand, taking her outside the lines if possible. She\u2019ll also try and slow the game down, I think, and frustrate the champ, who doesn\u2019t enjoy the wind-ups.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend comes out wearing a coat that wouldn\u2019t be out of place in the Night\u2019s Watch, photo to follow but, in the meantime:<\/p>\n Photograph: Helen Sloan\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s worth remembering what Patten said after winning Wimbledon, given the attempts to take doubles prize money away from players who need it, in order to pay already well remunerated singles players just a bit more. Frankly, it stinks.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis is a fantastic example of the joy that doubles can bring. The crowd – I hope you enjoyed it. I believe we should be growing opportunities in tennis for kids, whether they are doubles players, singles players, British, Finnish, from El Salvador or Croatia, wherever they are from, we should be growing the support instead of taking opportunities away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Arnaldi\/Struff recover from 0-30 down to hold for 2-2, but it does feel like a break is in the post.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In roughly nine minutes\u2019 time, Sabalenka and Townsend will step out on to Ashe. I imagine the American will use plenty of slice to take pace off the ball, forcing the champ to generate it all herself, while also seeking to haul her to net. I don\u2019t really think she\u2019s got a path to victory, but if there is one, this is probably it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re away in our dubs, Heliovaara\/Patten up 1-0 on Arnaldi\/Struff and with a break point \u2026 saved when Heliovaara returns into the net.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Mark Kovacs adds that the idea against Medvedev is to take time away from an opponent who\u2019s really good when he has it. I guess that\u2019ll mean powerful, flat shots, and perhaps some crowding of him at net, especially if he stands as far back as he usually does.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On sky, we\u2019re watching Tiafoe\u2019s coach with Christian Harrison, who\u2019s been a great addition to Sky\u2019s commentary team over the last year or so. He\u2019s really good at noticing stuff with a pro\u2019s eye, and also at explaining it; we\u2019re being told that Tiafoe has always had a great backhand cross, but he\u2019s now much better at going line. I remember years ago, Calvin Betton, Henry Patten\u2019s coach and our resident expert, told me he\u2019d seen a brilliant kid \u2013 our man here \u2013 but until now, he\u2019s not hit the level he suggested he might reach. He is, though, hinting that he might get there, at 28 older than is usually the case, but progress isn\u2019t always linear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also going on:<\/p>\n