One of the biggest storylines at this year’s US Open was Donald Young’s final run, in which he and Taylor Townsend partnered up for mixed doubles and reached the final as wild cards. But not even three days after playing for the US Open trophy, Young traded in his racquet for a paddle to compete at the CIBC PPA Atlanta Slam and officially begin the post-tennis phase of his life.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while, late last year that this would be my last year, and I wanted to finish at the Open,” Young said in an exclusive interview with Baseline.
“[Townsend] said it would be an honor to play with me when I asked, so I was excited. I’ve known her since birth, I was the ring bearer at her family’s wedding, so I’ve known her a long time; it was cool.
“After I finished the mixed final, my neck totally locked up, all the stress hit me, so I was pretty done, but it was good to get some reps in [on Monday].”
