Qualifier Townsend Stuns Wimbledon Champ Halep In US Open Second Round

American qualifier Taylor Townsend pulled off her fourth consecutive comeback win to stun reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep in three sets in the second round of the US Open.

Playing in her first match since Wimbledon, the No.116-ranked Townsend had to battle through three rounds of qualifying en route to her clash with Halep on Thursday at Flushing Meadow, New York.

The road to the main draw was anything but easy, with Townsend having to rally from behind against Veronica Cepede Royg and Nina Stojanovic in the second and third rounds. She battled back again in her first-round clash with Kateryna Kozlova, going the distance on Court 7 to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Out on Arthur Ashe Stadium -- the biggest court in tennis -- Townsend once again got off to a slow start against Halep, who has scored comfortable straight-sets wins against the American in all three of their previous meetings.

Townsend proved undaunted by that history and employed her all-court game to great success, finishing points at the net and frustrating Halep en route to a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) stunner - Townsend’s first career Top 10 win.

Up next, the American will take on another Romanian in the third round after Sorana Cirstea defeated Aliona Bolsova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 earlier in the day to advance.