TOWNSEND: ‘DON’T CALL ME A DOUBLES SPECIALIST’

DOUBLES NO. 1 AGAIN FINDING SUCCESS ON SINGLES COURT

By Richard Osborn

Taylor Townsend grew up in the South Side of Chicago, playing Double Dutch, throwing a ball around the park with her childhood pals, future ATP Tour pro Donald Young among them. She didn’t know it then, of course, but those playground rituals would come into play years down the road.

“There were just certain things that we did that I didn’t really know would translate to tennis,” said Townsend this week at the Cincinnati Open. “But my hand-eye coordination was better than a lot of the people I was playing against. It was one of my talents, my God-given gifts.”

Today, Townsend is the No. 1-ranked doubles player in the world, the 2024 Wimbledon and 2025 Australian Open titlist (both coming alongside Czech Katerina Siniakova). Just don’t call her a ‘doubles specialist’.

“That’s kind of a very dated mentality, if you’re a singles or doubles player,” said Townsend, who last year reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 46. “It’s tennis. It’s very, very demanding, just in different ways. And I have been fortunate and blessed to be able to go very far in doubles tournaments and in singles tournaments, and I’m having to endure the same thing that the singles players are enduring. It’s something that should be respected because it is tennis, and it’s not fair to categorize a person as a singles or doubles player. We’re all tennis players.”

“We’re all working incredibly hard to make a living, to support ourselves and our families and to make a better life for ourselves,” she added. “It requires more respect than just trying to categorize someone or put someone in a box as one or the other. I’m a tennis player. I’m a phenomenal tennis player. I’m No. 1 in the world, the first as a mother — ever in history. So if you want to call me a singles player, a doubles player, a mixed doubles player, whatever you want to say, it’ll be in the history books.”

Townsend arrived in Ohio on the heels of a runner-up finish at the WTA 1000 event in Montreal. She and partner Shuai Zhang were edged in the doubles final by the American duo of Coco Gauff and McCartney Kessler. The wildcard entrant is through to the third round after upending 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova, 6-3, 6-4.

“This is what I’ve dreamt of, to be able to come out and play high-level tennis,” said the 29-year-old Townsend, who in 2021 welcomed son Adyn Aubrey into the world. Her current singles ranking of No. 125 means she often has to fight through the qualifying rounds at tournaments to reach the main draw. She can’t always rely on the wildcards. This year alone, she’s qualified at the Miami Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Mubudala Citi DC Open. That’s a whole lot of extra mileage, of extra wear and tear. Not that she’s complaining.

“I honestly embrace the journey as it comes. I don’t look at it as a good or a bad thing,” she said. “It just is what it is. My best result at a Slam was when I qualified and I made the Round of 16 at the US Open [2019]. I was like, ‘Damn, this is my seventh match. If I started in the main draw, I would have won the tournament!’ It’s one of the things that is part of the journey.”

Townsend says she’s particularly proud to see so many athletes of color in the winner’s circle. Last week’s respective WTA and ATP finals are ideal examples: Townsend, Gauff, breakout 18-year-old champion Victoria Mboko and resurgent former No. 1 Naomi Osaka all playing for titles in Montreal; and American Ben Shelton snaring his maiden Masters 1000 crown in Toronto.

“I think people are inspired by people they see on court,” said Townsend. “I remember the first time I saw Serena and Venus [Williams] on court. That’s how I got into this sport.”

“When you see someone that you can relate to gives you hope that it’s possible for you. I think we’re in a very historic time because I don’t think there have ever been this many women or men of color inside of the Top 10, inside of the Top 5, that are Grand Slam champions, that are front-facing and doing the things that we’re doing. I don’t want to say it’s a heavy crown, but it’s one that we’re sharing. And I think that we all hold it very proudly. We’re inspiring the next generation. There’s a wave coming, and I think that it’s amazing. This is what we play for.”

Townsend, no labels necessary, will kick off the day session on Monday (11 a.m.) on P&G Center Court against Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who took out Venus Williams (6-4, 6-4) and Washington champion Leylah Fernandez (6-3, 6-3) en route to Round 3.