Taylor Fritz Plays Djokovic, Taylor Townsend Exits in Tears
US Open
September 1, 2025
Taylor Fritz was smiling and Taylor Townsend was crying. A tale of two Taylors at the tennis. A story of sporting ecstasy and agony.
Taylor Fritz and Taylor Townsend will be central to more tennis twists and turns at Wimbledon 2026. At least one will hope for a different ending.
The most dramatic twist at this 2025 US Open came on a packed Louis Armstrong. There, Taylor Townsend squandered no fewer than eight match points to gasps of horror.
Barbora Krejcikova finally overcame her 1-6, 7-6, 6-3. Townsend had a chance to end it even before the pivotal breaker – one of the most extraordinary in the history of the US Open.
At one stage the American had three successive match points in a tie-break that ultimately ended 15-13 in favour of the swashbuckling Czech.
No matter how hard she tried, Townsend just couldn’t get over the line. And whenever her determined opponent looked like breaking her serve in the deciding third, Taylor had to fight back her own tears as well as the increasing threat from over the net.
It was a horrible way to go. And you had to feel sorry for the home favourite. But what courage last year’s Wimbledon champion showed. She even claimed to have enjoyed the most stressful moments.
But poor Townsend admitted: ‘It just stings. I literally gave everything. She came up with some really, really great tennis in moments when she was down and I thought I had it.’
And Krejcikova will have to come up with more fireworks against another in-form American – Jessica Pegula – in the next round.
Taylor Fritz also faces a daunting task if he is to defeat his nemesis – Novak Djokovic. The Serb has played him ten times and won ten times.
But the US Open would be the perfect place for Fritz to finally end that sorry story while he still can.
And the good news is this particular Taylor is still on a high. He pretty much played the perfect match to beat Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
He’ll have to raise his level even further next time out. But we can’t wait for that one.
Taylor Fritz and Taylor Townsend have thrilled us and moved us in equal measure at Flushing Meadows.
And another match-up is already capturing the imagination. A resurgent Naomi Osaka takes on the vulnerable Coco Gauff is what promises to be a veritable classic.
All this excitement is making us long for Wimbledon 2026 already. Will you be there? Get in touch and we’ll make it happen.