US Open: Krejcikova survives Home Favorite Townsend in Epic Thriller

Barbora Krejcikova has saved eight match points in a gladiatoric duel with a non-sown American Taylor Townsend, who clawed its way to a dramatic 1-6 7-6 (13) 6-3 victory on Sunday to protect a place in the US Open Quarter Finales.

The dual Grand SLAM champion mounted an exciting showcase of resilience in New York, where the victory was held in a three-hour struggle to extend its US Open campaign. She will now be confronted with another American and last year second -year student Jessica Pegula.

“I still can’t believe that I am standing here and have an interview with you,” said Krejcikova.

“To be honest, I enjoy this crowd completely, although it is not for me, it’s for the Americans, it’s fine … I know it’s not for me, I wish we had such a tournament in the Czech Republic.”

Townsend came to shoot outside and Krejcikova broke twice early with sharp return and clean ball stairs, while the mistakes of the Czech only illuminated her path. The American never staggered on serve and broke again to close the set in less than half an hour.

The second set turned into a roller coaster when Townsend broke early and looked ready to pull away, but a double mistake helped to break Krejcikova back.

From there they exchanged postures and tense moments, Townend wasted the first of her match points on return before Krejcikova had not served the set to force a nail biting tiebreak.

The competition reached Peak -Drama when Townsend match points stepped to see them pleading alone by seeing errors or Krejcikova defendering with Gutsy winners.

The tiebreak turned into pure chaos. Townsend earned a triple match point at 6-3, but Krejcikova Klauwde back. Townsend then thought she had won it on her fifth chance, just to see how the Czech forehand is the line.

Krejcikova wasted three own points before she finally converted in her fourth chance with an overhead smash to take it 15-13.

The 25-minute duel, the longest tiebreak of the tournament so far, had the crowd buzzing, with other players practicing to see the drama unfold on the scenes.

Visibly tired in the third set, the pair of breaks exchanged until the Czech took the upper hand to serve before the game.

After missing her first match point, Krejcikova converted the second and left Townsend in tears while the Czech celebrated its heavily fought victory.