Tennis
U.S. Open
live
Updated 2m ago
The 2025 U.S. Open fourth round is underway today at Flushing Meadows.
Carlos Alcaraz (2) and Jessica Pegula (4) have both won in straight sets, while Taylor Townsend is currently leading two-time Grand Slam winner Barbora Krejčíková.
Novak Djokovic (7), Aryna Sabalenka (1) and Taylor Fritz (4) will be in action later today.
That tiebreak lasted more than 25 minutes. It had more points (28) than any other tiebreak at the 2025 U.S. Open thus far, men's or women's.
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Sorry kiddos, your autographs are going to have to wait. Barbora Krejčíková finally took the second set, and a couple ushers immediately come over to shoo the children back up the aisles. Of course, the fans who have been waiting for a bathroom break or a concession trip just love that.
Townsend 6-1, 6-7(13), 0-0* Krejčíková
Is her eighth match point the final one for Taylor Townsend? Evidently not as she sails a shot long.
Her backhand then finds the net, giving Barbora Krejčíková another set point and this time she finally converts, capping it off with an overhead smash.
Townsend could be haunted by those missed opportunities depending on how this third set goes…
It’s 12-12 in this tiebreaker, which has officially gone longer than 20 minutes. We’re on our fourth changeover, with Taylor Townsend to serve. The kids are still bunched up against a rail behind the umpire. The ones five or six back in the pack will not be having a good time if they don’t eventually get an autograph.
Townsend 6-1, *6-6 Krejčíková
Krejčíková has set point again and again she fails to convert, hitting a backhand into the net.
Townsend now has her sixth match point after Krejčíková hits a shot long.
The American convert though as Krejčíková hits back-to-back beautiful backhands. 11-11.
Another match point for Townsend after a sensational drop shot.
Krejčíková will not quit though, hitting a winner to extend the match.
A reminder that the first set between Barbora Krejčíková and Taylor Townsend lasted just 28 minutes. This one has gone 90-plus and isn’t over quite yet.
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Barbora Krejčíková just ruined a critical moment for dozens upon dozens of kids who had coaxed the adults who love them to buy them the oversized novelty tennis balls sold by Wilson. She blasted a forehand to Taylor Townsend’s right side, clipping the outside of the line, but the crowd clearly thought that the ball was out and the kids came pouring down the steps along two aisles from behind the chair umpire. They’re stuck, and hunching, and they might not get any autographs for a while if Krejčíková has her way.
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Townsend 6-1, 6-6 Krejčíková
Taylor Townsend has a fifth match point and she thought she won it but Barbora Krejčíková's shot barely clips the line. 7-7.
Now Krejčíková has set point after a stellar rally but she does not convert, slamming a forehand into the net.
A lengthy rally ends with a backhand winner for Krejčíková, earning her second set point.
Again, she yanks a forehand wide though. 9-9 as the players switch sides.
Townsend 6-1, 6-6 Krejčíková
A backhand into the net by Krejčíková gives Townsend a 4-3 advantage.
She rips a backhand winner of her own immediately after much to the crowd's enjoyment. 5-3.
Another error by Krejčíková gives Townsend triple match point as the crowd roars in anticipation.
Forehand winner by Krejčíková. 6-4.
Forehand into the net by Townsend. 6-5.
Townsend pushes a backhand wide. 6-6.
A changeover in the tiebreak and we’re at 3-3. Fitting for this set. it feels like whoever wins this tiebreaker will take the match, which is obvious for Taylor Townsend but could also be applicable to Barbora Krejčíková in launching her toward a third set.
Townsend went for the rather more expressive “What the f— was that?” after a too-cautious approach gave Krejčíková a window to hit a blistering forehand pass for 3-1.
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Townsend 6-1, 6-6 Krejčíková
After a powerful ace, Townsend still trails 3-2 through five points of this tiebreak.
The players switch sides knotted at three points apiece after Krejčíková finds nylon.
The mental game of this Barbora Krejčíková–Taylor Townsend megafight is on full display as this second set goes to a tiebreak. “This is unbelievable,” Krejčíková mouths to herself after missing a tough volley of a forehand pass attempt from Townsend. After Townsend won the next point, she pointed her right index finger to her temple and tapped — a universal gesture to indicate that so much of the game is between the ears.
That game went pretty much exactly as I expected it to go.
LOUD chants of "Let's go Taylor!" ahead of this second set tiebreak…
The crowd at Louis Armstrong are trying to will her across the finish line.
Townsend 6-1, 6-6 Krejčíková
After Krejčíková finds the net, Townsend has break point and she converts as he opponent pings a backhand wide.
We're headed to a tiebreak…
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And finally, Barbora Krejčíková gets her break of Taylor Townsend’s serve. Krejčíková can serve for the set now, and clearly doing so would flip this match on its head significantly. Remember IBM? It has Townsend at 62 percent to win now, a full 30 percentage points lower than what it was saying just a game ago.
Townsend 6-1, 5-6* Krejčíková
Townsend floats another shot weakly out of play, setting up break point for Krejčíková.
This time, the American floats another backhand long to drop her serve.
Krejčíková will serve for the set.
Krejčíková's two chipped forehand returns deep into Townsend's backhand swing at 0-15 and 15-30 were very smart, putting Townsend on the back foot and opening up a lot of space for her next ball.