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Barbora Krejcikova survives EIGHT match points to end Taylor Townsend’s dream run

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Taylor Townsend fails to covert eight match points as she is dumped out of the US Open by former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova; The US Open is live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app

Taylor Townsend’s dream US Open run came to a heartbreaking end as she failed to convert eight match points against former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova on Sunday.

The American has found herself as arguably the face of the first week after her second-round opponent Jelena Ostapenko confronted her courtside and accused her of having no education and no class.

She used the furore with the Latvian as inspiration to propel her to a shock third-round victory over fifth seed Mirra Andreeva.

With her four-year-old son AJ in the crowd, Townsend looked set to reach a singles Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time but Krejcikova somehow prevailed in a titanic second-set tie-break before clinching a 1-6 7-6 (15-13) 6-3 victory.

Krejcikova struggled to contain her emotions as she said to the crowd: “What a match. Just four months ago I was off the court, I couldn’t play. I had a huge pain in my back. I didn’t know if I’ll ever be back. Now here I am and this is huge. I still cannot believe that I’m standing here.

“To be honest, I’m totally enjoying this crowd. Even though it’s not for me, it’s for the Americans, it’s fine.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you again in my next match – I think against another American.”

Townsend dominated the opening set and looked poised to win the second as well, with Krejcikova saving her first match point in the 10th game.

It was the tie-break that really saw the 29-year-old pull off her Houdini act, though, Krejcikova saving her best for when it really mattered to fight off seven more match points, recovering from 3-6 before taking her third set point.

The Czech then took an off-court break, leaving Townsend sat on her chair wondering what might have been, and it was Krejcikova who had the momentum in the deciding set.

Townsend, who still has a chance in doubles, left the court in tears with a towel over her face to cheers from the packed stands on Louis Armstrong Stadium who had roared her on.

While the loss hurt, it has been a brilliant week for the 29-year-old, who said: “My coach and I have a rule where you get to sulk for three minutes. I took 10.

“It just stings because I literally gave everything. She came up with some really, really great tennis in moments where she was down, and I thought I had it.

“I’m exactly where I need to be. I’m playing the tennis I need to play to be inside the top 20, top 10, to win a grand slam.”

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Fallon Sherrock Shines Bright Beside Her Three Gorgeous Friends — A Celebration of Beauty, Bond, and Unstoppable Energy

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Fallon Sherrock — the dazzling “Queen of the Oche” — has once again captured hearts, this time away from the dartboard. In a series of radiant photos that quickly caught fans’ attention, Sherrock was seen enjoying a beautiful day out with her three gorgeous friends — a celebration of friendship, laughter, and unstoppable energy.

The images showcase pure joy — Fallon glowing in effortless elegance, her smile as bright as ever, surrounded by friends whose chemistry and confidence lit up every frame. Together, they embodied the perfect blend of grace, fun, and fierce femininity, proving that real beauty shines brightest when shared with people who lift you higher.

From casual laughter over coffee to sunset strolls filled with carefree vibes, every shot told a story of women who know how to balance hard work with heartfelt connection. Fans couldn’t stop gushing in the comments, calling them “the ultimate power squad” and praising Fallon for always radiating positivity both on and off the stage.

It’s clear that Fallon Sherrock’s strength doesn’t just come from her game — it’s deeply rooted in the love, loyalty, and laughter she shares with those closest to her. Whether she’s holding a dart or a friend’s hand, Fallon continues to inspire with the same spark that made her a global icon: unshakable confidence and a heart full of light.

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Emma Raducanu’s ex-coach joins another player’s team months after quitting role

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Emma Raducanu linked up with Yutaka Nakamura at the end of last year, but their partnership soon fizzled out.

Emma Raducanu’s former fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura, has officially started working with another player, this time on the men’s circuit. Raducanu announced that Nakamura had joined her team last December, and he was set to travel with her during “most weeks” of the season.

However, Nakamura has been absent from her box for most of the year, reportedly stepping back for personal reasons in the spring. Raducanu has since been working with other physios, including Daniel Pohl and Jerome Poupel. And Nakamura has now seemingly joined Grigor Dimitrov’s team, months after the Bulgarian’s heartbreaking injury retirement at Wimbledon.

Dimitrov led top seed and eventual champion Jannik Sinner by two sets to love in the fourth round of Wimbledon this summer when he suddenly went down in tears, picking up a pectoral injury.

The former world No. 3 received off-court treatment, but he was unable to continue and returned to the court to retire from the match. Dimitrov has since revealed that he spent two hours crying in the locker room, and he later shared a photo from the hospital.

During his injury layoff, Dimitrov’s team had a shake-up, and he parted ways with his coach, Jamie Delgado, who has since joined Jack Draper’s camp. The 34-year-old has now returned to competition at the Paris Masters with some new faces in his box.

One of them is Nakamura, who has a wealth of experience on the WTA Tour, also working with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, as well as Raducanu.

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Novak Djokovic’s wife’s telling response to retirement as he drops Paris Masters hint

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Novak Djokovic’s tennis future is rife with speculation but the superstar is seemingly no closer to calling time on his legendary career.

Novak Djokovic’s wife Jelena told her husband he wouldn’t be able to resist the lure of tennis after he sensationally threatened to quit the game – an urge she continues to be proved right about. Djokovic ultimately soldiered on to become a true sporting icon and has recently dropped a hint that he could play well into his 40s.

The former world No. 1 has won a men’s record 24 Grand Slam singles titles and is widely viewed as one of the sport’s greatest ever players. Djokovic has, however, failed to win a Grand Slam since the 2023 US Open. The Serb has reached the semi-finals of all four major tournaments this year but turns 39 next year and has been plagued by injuries throughout 2025, sparking fresh suggestions that he could retire. Djokovic actually came close to calling time on his legendary tennis journey seven years ago before making a stunning resurgence. At that time, Djokovic had only secured half of his major championships haul, with a combination of recurring injuries and growing frustrations seeing him briefly turn his back on the game.

Jelena recounted the emotional chapter in a 2020 conversation, saying: “He wanted to quit. He gathered all the members of his team and told them, ‘You know what, I’m done, I’m quitting.’ We cried and told him that he couldn’t do it, that it wasn’t the right time.

“He didn’t want to play tennis, and he didn’t even want to see a ball pass in front of him.” Djokovic even alerted his sponsors that he was retiring, only for Jelena to remind him just how much tennis means to him, spurring on his U-turn.

The persuasive powers of Jelena and their children, Stefan and Tara, reignited his desire to return. “He didn’t want to know anything about it,” Jelena said. “But I love tennis and I take the kids to the court every day. On the third day, Novak arrived.

“He saw we were having fun, and it wasn’t the intense training he was accustomed to for years. Novak asked me if he could play and get a racket, but I refused.

“I started teasing him, saying he had quit and now it was our turn to play tennis. Eventually, he served and felt good, then returned daily until he finally called his coach Marian Vajda to start training again.”

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