Townsend upsets Alexandrova for fifth Top 20 win as Rogers comes up short
Taylor Townsend scored her fifth career Top 20 win in front of a rocking Althea Gibson Club Court on Wednesday night at the Credit One Charleston Open.
The 27-year-old from Atlanta stunned world No.15 Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5 6-2 thanks in part to seven aces and facing just one break point all evening. The lefty will face former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka for a place in the quarter-finals.
Across the grounds from Townsend, her fellow American Shelby Rogers couldn’t conjure that same magic, falling in two tight sets to No.9 seed and 2021 champion Veronika Kudermetova, 7-6(5) 6-4 on Credit One Stadium.
“I had a lot of chances tonight,” said Rogers, who said she was battling a small cold on court, too. “I just wanted to leave it all on the court, and I think I did that.”
Kudermetova will face No.5 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who also won in two tight sets over another American – Caroline Dolehide – winning 6-2 7-5, in the final match of the night.
Former champ prevails 👉
Veronika Kudermetova defeats Rogers 7-6, 6-4 to begin her 2024 campaign on the green clay.#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/xVwZRZG1d5
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 4, 2024