Townsend’s net-focused game brings Halep upset at Flushing Meadows

American world No.116 Taylor Townsend approached the net more than 100 times to overcome fourth seed Simona Halep in the second round of the US Open and record her first Top 10 victory in 11 tries.The 23-year-old Townsend had never before beaten Halep in their three previous meetings and it seemed that the story would be the same in their Thursday’s match-up, as the Romanian former world No.1 cruised through the first set. Qualifier Townsend, however, was determined to go for the win, increased her net approaches in the second and third sets and as Halep’s aggression subsided, the underdog got in control.

The decider was highly dramatic, as Halep saved two match points from 40-15 down in the…