(September 5, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – No. 3 seeded Italian duo of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori ruined Donald Young’s story book ending when the Italian squad defeated Young and Taylor Townsend in the final of the Mixed Doubled event at the US Open 7-6(0), 7-5 on Thursday afternoon.
For both Italian’s this was their first Mixed Doubles major trophy.
This was Young’s final pro tennis tournament before retirement. Despite the loss, Young was happy to play in Ashe Stadium for his final match.
“I can’t think of a better place to go out in,” he said, “having watched [matches there] as a kid and playing with someone I’ve known [my] whole life.”
“It felt cool. You know, obviously wasn’t the result we wanted, but I can’t think of a better spot, place to go out in, having, you know, watched that as a kid, and playing with someone I’ve known our whole life. It’s pretty cool for me.
“Again, you know, if you would have asked me this question at the beginning of the tournament, I would have been happy, it would have been surreal. This is pretty cool.”
“Yeah, in my career, I never play mixed,” said Errani. “Was really nice to play for me with Andrea. We are really good friends, so I need to play when I play with someone that I have confidence. I know him. I can tell him what I think.
“So I think Andrea is perfect person to do this. We have enjoyed a lot the time outside the court and also on the court. I think we can help each other to improve, so it’s really nice, this.”
“I always wanted to win a slam,”said the 29-year-old Vavassori. “Doubles, mixed, I don’t care about it. I think write the names, and winning something like this is unbelievable. To accomplish this with Sara is special, because she’s a special person, I think.
“We need examples in these times, in sports but in life in general, are working, humble, a person that can teach a lot to the person in Italy, to the people in Italy, but also in the world.
“So also to me, she give me a lot of confidence in the court. We have similar shot. We always like to fight, to be together in the court.
“We had fun. It is a special thing together. I think we can really enjoy also the future to play together next tournaments.”
“Yeah, it was amazing,” said Townsend. “You know, when he asked me to play, I told him it would be an honor for me to play, knowing it was the last tournament.
“For me, I wouldn’t change anything. It was fantastic. I mean, I played with Leylah all of last year, so I was used to being on the same side as a lefty. It worked to our advantage a lot of the time with the sun. I messed up a couple times, I was, like, Oh, shit, that was a forehand, I shouldn’t have taken that. It was getting used to that type of thing, switching sides, playing different sides.
“It’s always amazing, and, you know, for me, Donald and I, we go so far back. I mean, in life in general. It’s not the end. We both live in Atlanta, so I’m going to see him a ton and follow what he’s doing in the next chapter.
“But it’s cool to be able to close the book this way. Again, being able to leave here with some hardware when a lot of people didn’t, that’s the most special thing.
“So, I mean, it’s fantastic. I’m glad to be able to do it by his side.”
“It was tough to play with them,” said Errani. “Two lefties, was tough to return. In the beginning was really tough for both, and then I think we found a little bit the way, even on my serve, to make them think more and not do normal things.
“But we know that we were solid. We are solid, we are good on the net, so we are trying to think about that. But was really tough match.”
“Taylor can serve pretty well for women,” Vavassori said. “Was not easy to return for both of us.
“But Sara’s percentage was very high today, helped me a lot. I didn’t return very well. Much better in the other matches, but, you know, you have to find a way sometimes, a way to win. We talk a lot during the match, the tactic on her serve. I was covering well the net both sides, so I think we did a good job.
“It was not easy, but we played unbelievable tiebreak, like 7-0, in a few minutes. So it was good. Also, at the end, we had opportunity to go away after the 4-1, but they came back and we did a good job at the end.”
It’s been a career year for Errani, a doubles gold for her and Jasmine Paolini.
“Is no words. Is more than a dream,” she said. “I never dream this, so it’s much more. It’s unbelievable year. Like you say, in Rome, we did the final in Paris. I play good also in singles. Now this mixed doubles, the medal was the most. I have no words (smiling).
“I mean, I couldn’t expect this. I’m enjoying a lot. Of course when you win, you enjoy a lot. When you lose, not too much. But you have to stay there, to keep there even in the tough moment, and I think that I did that also.
“I’m proud of myself to be there, to be there in the tough moment and to live these moments.”
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