"Taylor is the one I always chitchat a little bit in the locker room": Muchova urges Townsend to keep bringing the fire after US Open clash

Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova has heaped praise on her US Open 2023 third-round opponent Taylor Townsend.

The fourth and final Grand Slam of the year is moving towards the business end of the competition as the players continue to battle it out to claim the ultimate prize.

Muchova overcome Townsend in the contest in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-3 on Friday to book her place in the round of 16 where she will face China’s Wang Xinyu on Sunday.

Talking after the match, the world number 10 was full of praise for the 27-year-old and expressed optimism that she will keep ‘bringing the fire’ to the court.

“Taylor is the one I always chitchat a little bit in the locker [with],” she said. “She's very nice girl also. Yeah, we talk just fine. Again, she has a great game. She's funny. So we talk here and there, and yeah, that's probably what I would say.

"I wish her the best, because I like the game she plays. It's very similar to mine, so that's what I as well told her at the net. Yeah, she's bringing the fire now, so I hope she keeps going.”

The victory helped Muchova equal her best outing in the US Open of playing in the fourth round.

The last time she did it was back in 2020 where she lost to the former world number one Victoria Azarenka with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.