(August 26, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – Fresh off of winning her first major doubles title at Wimbledon over the summer, as well as raising her singles ranking to a career-high 50 in the world, Taylor Townsend, now 28 will be helping to close out the career of a long-time friend – Donald Young. Young will be playing mixed doubles with Townsend at the US Open and then officially go into retirement.
Townsend spoke to media after her first round singles win over fellow lefty Italy’s Martina Trevisan 6-2, 7-5, coming back from a break down in the second set.
“So it’s really special for me because he’s retiring. When he asked me to play it was an honor because I grew up with Donald. I’ve known him since his mom and my mom played doubles together. He was the ring bearer at my mom and dad’s wedding.. from the time that I could even remember anything, Donald was around.
“And obviously his dad and mom being my first coaches since I picked up a racquet, so I have so many special memories and more than anything, it’s really special because he was the closest thing that I had to feeling as though that leading this life was possible. Him winning junior Wimbledon, junior Australian Open, then going on to the tour, breaking out on tour and coming home and being able to bring that accomplishment to us to begin. It was the closest that I ever had being near anyone that was doing this at this level, So when he asked me to play, I just felt like it’s an honor to be like, close that book for him because, they kind of like opened that for me, I felt that it was kind of like a full circle moment. It’s an honor.
“Of course I’m talking sh** (with him), I’m just like hey ‘you better not suck out there’…’if you start doing some crazy stuff, I will serve the ball at your head. so it was threats, still , you know, everything is on the table, but we are going to have fun. It was an honor for me to be able to do this for him.”
Townsend admitted that she gets many calls from players who ask her to play doubles and mixed doubles. “It’s cool. It’s a testament to like people seeing the type of player that I am and recognizing me…they want to get on the train.
Playing her home Slam: “It just feels like there is a certain energy that’s buzzing around me. It’s very positive. I have so many friends, family. I feel that I have such a great team around me. I just feel very supported.”
She loves playing on Court 17 where she won her singles match on Monday – “it was lit” she said. “It always feels great, especially having the accomplishment of winning Wimbledon. I jusr felt Like I have such an even stronger following.”
Townsend will face a test in her second round match when she takes on No.26 seed Paula Badosa.
