Taylor Townsend stuns Yulia Putintseva to triumph the Girls’ Singles event – Australian Open 2012
Booming American starlet, Taylor Townsend, surprised everyone after upsetting the fourth seed, Yulia Putintseva, in a tipsy turvy three-setter to become 2012 junior Australian Open champion. She manipulated a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the 17-year-old Russian at this first of the four Grand Slam event held in Melbourne, Australia.
Townsend, just 15-year-old, displayed top notch performance to conquer the Russian in their first meeting. She required one hour and 17 minutes beating the Russian and claiming the title in her first appearance in this major tennis tournament.
“It’s really exciting. I mean, it's a dream come true for me,” Townsend said. “A lot of people were supporting me, and my family and everything are just so proud. It was just a proud moment for me and ... the feelings kind of rushed in. I just kinda tried to focus on myself and just make sure [I] just keep playing one point at a time.”
The American teenager made quick on-roads and drew the first blood in the second game to quickly went 3-1 up. After the Russian hold her serve in the fourth game, Townsend maintained her intensity and wiped out the last three games, ending the set with an assuring 6-1 win in just 23 minutes.
In spite of exceptional start of the match, the American stepped off gas in the second set.
Putintseva, on the other hand, took full advantage of it and went on a four games rampage. Regardless of losing her serve in the fifth game, she swiped in remaining serves and sealed the equalizer by winning six games to three.
With the match now poised on a knife edge, it was Townsend who regained her earlier composure. Despite losing her serve in the opening game, she not only recovered in the very next game but capitalized on another break chance in the eighth game to clinch the set with a 6-3 score line.
“Well, I've learned that ... if you just compete and work really hard, anything is possible,” she added. “You know, the family support and the support of people that are around you is key.”
On Friday, Townsend paired up with her fellow citizen, Gabrielle Andrews, to stun the top seeded duo, Russia’s Irina Khromacheva and Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic, in a three set nail biter to triumph Girls’ Doubles title at this event.
Tags: