US Open 2019 results: Simona Halep stunned by world No 116 Taylor Townsend months after giving her advice
Fourth seed dumped out at Flushing Meadows by American qualifier who reaches the third round after learning from the error of her ways
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Simona Halep's advice to Taylor Townsend came back to bite her after the American qualifier dumped the Wimbledon champion out of the US Open.
Townsend, ranked 116 in the world, came from behind to stun the Romanian fourth seed in a third-set tie-break, winning 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Halep beat Townsend 6-1, 6-3 at the Miami Open in March, after which the 23-year-old asked for some tips.
Halep revealed: "After we played together, she came in the locker room and she asked me what she has to improve to be better. Next time I will not say anything."
Townsend, who will face Sorana Cirstea in round three, recalled: "I don't know why I did it, but I did it. It kind of stuck with me.
"I'm not saying that everything she said I implemented into my training, but it was definitely in the back of my head to remember what she said and also remember why I asked, what drove me to ask that question, kind of that hunger and desire to get better."
Naomi Osaka is over her first-night nerves as her bid to defend her title gathers pace.
Osaka needed three sets to dispatch Anna Blinkova in her first-round match, but there was no such drama in her 6-2, 6-4 win over Magda Linette.
"For me, going into this match I was very calm, because I was thinking there is no way my nerves could be worse than they were the day before," she said.
"For me, I also had that comfort of knowing I have played Magda before. I'd never played Blinkova before, so there is also that added stress not knowing what she can do.
"For me, that stress was taken away today. I came in pretty confident with my abilities and I think that showed a little bit."
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was another surprise second-round casualty, the sixth seed losing 6-4, 6-4 to Andrea Petkovic.
"I think that she likes my game, to be honest," said the Czech. "She played great. She moved pretty well as well.
"I had my chances, but I was always missing the last things. I was a break up in the second, and I should make it.
"But, yeah, overall I don't think I really played that bad. That's how it is. I was really trying hard. I was fighting."
Teenage wild card Coco Gauff is through after a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Hungarian qualifier Timea Babos.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments