NEW YORK (AP) — Karolina Muchova moved into the U.S. Open’s fourth round on Friday with a 7-6 (0), 6-3 victory over Taylor Townsend.
Muchova, the 10th-seeded Czech who reached the final of this year’s French Open, equaled her best showing at Flushing Meadows by pushing the serve-and-volleying American off the net and onto the baseline. The 132nd-ranked Townsend won just 23 of 70 baseline points and had 39 unforced errors.
Muchova came into the U.S. Open with a career-high ranking and momentum after reaching the final of this month’s tune-up event in Cincinnati, losing to American Coco Gauff in straight sets.
She next faces Xinyu Wang of China, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 winner over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia.
Also in early third-round matches Friday, top-seeded defending champion Iga Swiatek faced Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan, and 14th-seeded American Tommy Paul took on No. 21 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain.
Later matches include No. 6 Gauff against 32nd-seeded Elise Mertens, and a matchup of two players who recently returned to tennis, Caroline Wozniacki and Jennifer Brady.
No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic will be in action at night in Arthur Ashe Stadium against fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, the No. 32 seed. Djokovic is chasing his 24th Grand Slam title and the departures of three high seeds in his half of the draw – No. 4 Holger Rune, No. 5 Casper Ruud and No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas – could help clear his path.
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