Barbora Krejcikova v Taylor Townsend, comeback, saved eight match points, epic tie-breaker, Carlos Alcaraz win, video, highlights, scores, results

Barbora Krejcikova saved eight match points as she ended the fairytale run of Taylor Townsend with one of the most incredible US Open comebacks in recent memory.

Krejcikova prevailed 1-6, 7-6 (15/13), 6-3 in three hours and four minutes in their fourth round match in front of a parochial crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium, who showed incredible respect for the Czech player despite their disappointment at American Townsend being ousted.

It was the second straight match in which the two-time major champion, and Olympic gold medallist, has played party pooper against a local hope.

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The 29-year-old was down 3-0 in the third set against tenth seed American Emma Navarro in the third round, but this time around she was remarkably one point away from elimination on eight occasions.

Seven of those moments came in the epic second set tie-breaker, which Krejcikova eventually won 15-13 in almost 25 minutes after being down 3-6 in the tie-break, and having trailed 1-3 earlier in the set.

The drama continued in the deciding set, albeit it was less chaotic, with multiple breaks of serve until Krejcikova gained the upper hand, and she secured a quarter-final berth with her second match point.

“One of the most crazy, bonkers matches you are ever likely to see,” was the summary from one commentator on the broadcast.

In her on court interview, Krejcikova was almost in disbelief about what she had accomplished, especially given she was struck down by a back injury earlier this year.

“Yeah, what a match,” she said.

“Just four months ago, I was off the court, I couldn’t play. I couldn’t practice. I didn’t know if I will ever be back.

“I still can’t believe that I’m standing here having an interview with you right now.

“I was sidelined for six months and didn’t know if I would ever play again. I’m super happy I can be here.”

Krejcikova will have face a third consecutive American in the quarter-finals, in last year’s finalist Jessica Pegula.

Townsend, meanwhile, matched her best ever run at a grand slam in reaching the final 16, and it came after Jelena Ostapenko caused the storm of the tournament by telling the 29-year-old American she had “no education and no class” following Townsend’s second round victory.

ALCARAZ ON DJOKOVIC COLLISION COURSE

Earlier, Carlos Alcaraz marched into the quarter-finals and is on course for a semi-final showdown against Novak Djokovic, who brought an end to the run of German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff.

The 38-year-old Djokovic coasted past world number 144 Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Taylor Fritz, the last American left in the men’s draw and 2024 runner-up.

Djokovic was in cruise control throughout and broke the 35-year-old Struff five times but again showed signs of wear and tear as he received treatment to his shoulder at multiple changeovers.

“It definitely helps if you serve well. I think I had a great serving performance last round and also tonight,” said Djokovic.

“That helps make it easier on the court.”

Seventh seed Djokovic has reached the last eight at Flushing Meadows for the 14th time. He is through to a 64th Grand Slam quarter-final in his 80th appearance at this level.

Djokovic has won all 10 matches with Fritz including a straight-sets victory in the quarter-finals two years ago when the Serbian star captured his most recent major.

Spanish second seed Alcaraz, meanwhile, overpowered France’s Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets.

The 22-year-old five-time Grand Slam champion was made to work hard in a hard-fought first set but eventually pulled away to win 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

“I think my style of tennis suits pretty well the energy here in New York,” said Alcaraz, who has yet to drop a set at the tournament.

“The energy is special playing the day session, playing the night session. It doesn’t matter, people are always there. I love it and I think that’s why I play my best tennis here,” he added.

Alcaraz will face Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Lehecka reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for only the second time after battling past veteran Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, winning 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

“I’m a bit speechless because it’s been a hell of a match,” said Lehecka, who is poised to crack the top 20 after matching his quarter-final run at the 2023 Australian Open.

“Definitely an unbelievable week and a half for me. I’ve been playing well,” he said.

PEGOLA ROUT AS SABALENKA CRUISES

In the women’s draw, last year’s beaten finalist Pegula admitted she had surprised herself by extending her campaign into a second week.

Pegula arrived in New York on the back of a dismal run of form that had seen her make early exits from WTA tournaments in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati on the North American hardcourt swing.

But the 31-year-old American swatted aside compatriot Ann Li in an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory in just 54 minutes.

“I felt terrible coming into this tournament, honestly,” Pegula said afterwards. The American revealed that a pre-tournament night out with friends at an escape room had helped her bring a more relaxed attitude to her campaign.

“Went and did an escape room with my friends and had, like, two drinks and was, like, I need to just chill and stop getting so frustrated and overthinking all these practices,” she said.

If the tournament follows the seedings, Pegula will face a repeat of last year’s final in the semi-finals, where defending champion Aryna Sabalenka may be lying in wait.

Sabalenka cruised into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets defeat of unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.

The world number one and defending champion was always in control as she completed a 6-1, 6-4 victory over the Moldova-born Bucsa, ranked 95th in the world.

“I’m super happy with the win and I feel like with every game I keep getting better and better,” said Sabalenka, who could become the first woman to defend the US Open since Serena Williams in 2014.

“I’m not thinking about last year,” Sabalenka said of her 2024 title.

“I’m super happy I was able to achieve it once, but I want to achieve it many, many more times.”

Bucsa had never been further than the third round in 15 previous Grand Slam appearances before her New York campaign, and she never looked like improving that record against her big-hitting opponent from Belarus.

Sabalenka broke Bucsa twice on her way to wrapping up the first set in just 27 minutes before dominating the second set to close out the win.

Sabalenka faces a quarter-final against either ninth seed Elena Rybakina or the Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova, who play later Sunday.