Taylor Townsend makes dramatic return to action in first match since the US Open as she saves six match points

Taylor Townsend has finally played her first singles match in over a month after her impressive run at the US Open.

Townsend beat Mirra Andreeva at the US Open to match her best ever Grand Slam result by reaching the fourth round.

The two-time Grand Slam doubles champion had eight match points to reach the quarterfinals, but Townsend suffered heartbreak against Barbora Krejcikova.

Townsend suggested that she would continue to focus on singles as well as doubles, but she has only just returned to play a dramatic first match back.

Taylor Townsend saves six match points in first singles match since the US Open

Townsend played doubles at the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen, before withdrawing from the rest of the China swing after citing an ankle injury, which came after she apologised for comments she made about Chinese food on social media.

The world number 121 returned to competition at the Japan Open, where Naomi Osaka is the top seed.

Due to her current singles ranking, Townsend was forced to play in qualifying at the WTA 250 event in Osaka and had a first round match against world number 267 Mei Yamaguchi.

Perhaps showing some rust from not playing much tennis recently, Townsend failed to capitalise on a first set lead and lost it in a tie-break to the Japanese wildcard.

Townsend won the second set more comfortably to level the match, before drama unfolded in the decider.

This is where Yamaguchi had six match point opportunities on the Townsend serve, including three in a row, but she was unable to convert them.

Townsend was then able to force a tie-break, where she beat Yamaguchi, 6(4) 6-3 7-6(3).

Taylor Townsend plays two singles matches in one day at the Japan Open

As if Townsend’s over three hour battle with Yamaguchi was not enough for one day, she then had to return to the court once again.

There had been rain on the previous day in Osaka, which forced Townsend’s match with Yamaguchi to be postponed until the following day.

As a result, Townsend also had to play her second round qualifying match shortly after beating Yamaguchi, where she would play world number 96 Dalma Galfi, who had also played a match earlier on in the day.

Having not played singles for over six weeks, two matches in one day appeared to be too much for Townsend who lost to Galfi, 6-1 6-3.

There is still a slim chance that someone withdraws and creates a lucky loser opportunity for someone like Townsend, who will remain in Osaka for the doubles draw.

In a first-time pairing, Townsend will play alongside nine-time Grand Slam doubles champion Kristina Mladenovic as the second seeds.