2023 U.S. Open Recap: Townsend, Brady Knock Out Seeds To Advance to Third Round
The success of the American women at the 2023 U.S. Open continued on Wednesday with several advancing into the third round of the year’s final major.
That includes Taylor Townsend, who upset 19th seeded Brazilian Haddad Maia 7-6(1), 7-5 in front of a packed house on Court 17.
“It was really cool. Honestly, this is probably one of the most fun matches I played in terms of crowd support,” said Townsend. “I really was feeding off of the energy. I did not care that it was a lot of support for her. I expect that pretty much anywhere we go.”
Townsend was the more aggressive player and went for her shots throughout the match. She only faced one break point and blasted 31 winners to advance in just over two hours.
“I’m very proud of the way that I fought and I executed my game plan,” Townsend added. “Bea does a great job of keeping her opponents under pressure. I had some opportunities where I was up a break in the second, she broke back. We had some tough games back and forth where I had opportunities, and they kind of slipped. I think, mentally, I’m most proud of the way I managed myself mentally today.”
Up next for the 27-year-old American is 10th seed Karolina Muchova. She defeated Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday.
Jennifer Brady powered her way into the third round as she held on to defeat 24th seed Magda Linette 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 in Louis Armstrong Stadium. Brady is making her way back to the tour following a series of injuries over the last year-plus, and now finds herself in a third-round showdown with the resurgent Caroline Wozniacki.
Wozniacki continued her return to the tour with a 7-5, 7-6(5) victory over 11th seed Petra Kvitova inside a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I’ve been feeling very comfortable here in New York in general. Ever since I arrived here, it’s just something about the courts, everything else, that have made me feel good,” said Wozniacki. “I feel like I played well today. I’m so happy I managed to close it out, even missing a couple of those match points. I’m happy that I just stayed calm and collected and I managed to win in the end anyways.”
Earlier in the day, top-seed and defending champion Iga Swiatek overcame a tough test from Australia’s Daria Saville 6-3, 6-4 to advance. She moves into a matchup against with Serbia’s Kaja Juvan.
Sixth-seed Coco Gauff and Bernarda Pera were also winners for the United States on Wednesday.
