Taylor Townsend delivered one of the most powerful performances of her career at the U.S. Open, defeating No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-2 in the third round. The win marked her third career victory over a top-10 opponent and sent her into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the second time. Playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Townsend combined aggressive net play with smart shot selection to dismantle the 18-year-old Russian star.
A message beyond tennis
After the match, Townsend addressed the crowd with emotion and clarity. “I wanna say thank you to everyone who supported me the last 48 hours. It’s bigger than me. It’s about the message and representation. You guys saw the real Taylor Townsend tonight.” Her words resonated deeply, especially following a week of headlines and tension after a heated exchange with Jelena Ostapenko in the previous round.
Ostapenko’s controversial remarks
Following Townsend’s second-round win over Jelena Ostapenko, the two players engaged in a tense post-match exchange. Ostapenko allegedly told Townsend, “You have no class, no education, and let’s see what happens outside the U.S.” Townsend responded with composure, saying, “Whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on. The only thing that I’m worried about right now is continuing to move forward through this tournament.”
Rising above the noise
Townsend chose not to dwell on the confrontation, instead channeling her energy into her match against Andreeva. Her ability to rise above the drama and deliver under pressure has made her one of the standout stories of the tournament. “The thing that I’m the most proud of is that I let my racket talk,” she said after the win.
Looking ahead with pride
Townsend will face Barbora Krejčíková in the next round, with a chance to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Regardless of the outcome, her performance and presence have already made an impact. She reminded fans that tennis is not just about rankings and results—it’s also about identity, courage, and showing up as your full self.
Jelena Ostapenko in 2025
Currently ranked no.26, Jelena played her last match on the 27th of August when she lost to world no.139 Taylor Townsend 7-5 6-1 in the 2nd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
This year the Latvian has managed to achieve a composed 18-17 match record. The Latvian clinched 1 title in Stuttgart. The Latvian was the finalist in Doha.
Mirra Andreeva in 2025
Ranked no.5 (career-high), the Russian played her last match on the 29th of August when she lost to world no.139 Taylor Townsend 7-5 6-2 in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
Currently, during this year Andreeva achieved a 38-13 match record. Andreeva clinched 2 titles in 2025 in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Jelena Ostapenko and Mirra Andreeva have never squared off.