US Open 2023: Karolina Muchova downs Taylor Townsend, Ben Shelton reaches round 4 for 1st time

World number 10 Karolina Muchova has advanced to the round of 16 stage of the 2023 US Open with a straight sets win over USA’s Taylor Townsend. Meanwhile, American tennis star Ben Shelton booked his spot in the last-16 stage of the US Open for the first time in his career.

US Open 2023: Full Coverage

Completing the match in an hour and 54 minutes, Muchova managed to deliver a 7-6(0), 6-3 victory that spoke of her athletic prowess and strategic finesse. Both Muchova and Townsend took a proactive approach, coming to the net a combined total of 73 occasions, with Muchova accounting for 30 of those instances and Townsend contributing another 43.

Muchova will now lock horns with world number 53 Wang Xinyu, who defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the third round. The 2 hour and 8-minute long match allowed Xinyu to display her competitive edge and mark her progress in the tournament.

Speaking after her win, Muchova said her match against Townsend was a tricky one, adding that her American opponent played really well.

“The match was kind of what I expected, a tricky one. Taylor, I think, played really, really great from the start. The first set was very tough, very close. I’m glad I refocused very well for the tiebreak, and I think I played well there. As well, I felt start of the second set it was a little bit more in my hands,” said Muchova during the on-court interview.

Shelton advances to last-16 stage

USA’s Ben Shelton defeated Aslan Karatsev of Russia to advance to the round of 16 in the US Open for the first time in his career. Shelton downed Karatsev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 in the third round.

Shelton will now lock horns with fellow American Tommy Paul in the next round. The world number 14 beat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 in the third round.