Let’s give it up for Taylor Townsend. She upset former top ten and Roland Garros champion, [25] Jelena Ostapenko, 7-5, 6-1. I can appreciate the high emotional state of Ostapenko, who was ticked off that she lost to a player ranked much lower than her, but I will not condone verbal abuse by any player. As a Black woman who endured discrimination and often racist mentalities for my entire career as a physician, I am so proud to see Taylor Townsend rise above yet put the Latvian in her place. Furthermore, if Ostapenko had any class that she said Townsend was lacking, she would apologize for being insulting to Townsend. Instead, she took to social media to justify her rudeness.

Embed from Getty Images

Taylor Townsend Showed Class And Game

Taylor Townsend knew the rules better than Ostapenko, proving the point that she is more educated than her opponent. How do you jump to the conclusion that your opponent is uneducated? Has Jelena Ostapenko ever sat down and had a conversation with Taylor Townsend? It bothers me so much that so many people jump to the conclusion that Black people are dumb. My entire career as a physician I was challenged on a daily basis about where I trained, was I a real doctor, or the inability to understand my accent. Mind you, all this the minute I introduced myself as their doctor for the procedure.

Embed from Getty Images

Pegula Amongst The Other American Winners

[4] Jessica Pegula is still looking for that first major title. Is she really looking or does it really matter to her if she wins a major? I would like to think it matters. I do not believe she is playing for the money. On the other hand, there is no extra incentive to push her over the finish line. Anna Blinkova offered up very little resistance in the first set but competed a little better in the second set. It still was not enough as the American won 6-1, 6-3.

Embed from Getty Images

[10] Emma Navarro easily defeated fellow American, Caty McNally. McNally just could not get her game going, but she can take some positive from this event and hopefully it will bump up her ranking a bit. Navarro won 6-2, 6-1. [4] Taylor Fritz had his hands full against Lloyd Harris. Before you get bent out of shape, Harris was ranked as high as thirty-one before injury derailed his career. Fritz won 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4. [6] Ben Shelton and his team are hoping this is his time. Shelton defeated a former top ten player, Pablo Carreno Busta, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. [17] Frances Tiafoe put an end to his fellow countryman’s US Open, Martin Damm. Damm can find solace in winning a set and pushing Tiafoe in the last three sets. Big foe won 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(8), 7-5.

Casper Ruud Amongst The Fallen Seeds

[12] Casper Ruud lost his momentum and the match. Raphael Collignon fought his way back after dropping the second and third sets to upset the Norwegian 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Like Ruud, [18] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina squandered his 2-1 sets lead, to lose his match. Arthur Rinderknech was the lucky recipient of Fokina’s lapse in concentration. The Frenchman won 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. [11] Holger Rune will have to closely examine his form. Rune lost to Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 5-7. Struff went through the qualifying rounds to get to the main draw but was ranked as high as number twenty-one before injury took a toll on his ranking. [16] Jakub Mensik was upset in his match with Ugo Blanchet. Blanchet defeated Mensik 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(7).

Embed from Getty Images

American [30] Brandon Nakashima missed an excellent opportunity. Jerome Kym defeated him 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8). This one will sting Nakashima for a bit. [16] Belinda Bencic lost surprisingly easily to American Ann Li. Li won 6-3, 6-3. Priscilla Hon made the main draw the hard way, but she is definitely playing quality tennis. Hon defeated [17] Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. [5] Jack Draper is out of the US Open due to injury. He did not step on court to play his match; this, Zizou Bergs get the walkover victory. American [32] McCartney Kessler lost 6-7(7), 6-2 to Marketa Vondrousova.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES