This year in New York, however, Townsend reminded the tennis world of her talent. She ousted former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko—in a match that went viral for its fiery ending—and stunned No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva.
Q. What did you learn from not just the match but this singles run?
TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I’m exactly where I need to be. I said it in D.C., you know, I was kind of inching there, but I’m exactly where I need to be.
That’s it. I’m playing the tennis I need to play be inside the Top 20, Top 10 to win a Grand Slam. She’s a two-time Grand Slam champion. I have beaten a Grand Slam champion this tournament.
So I have everything that I need, and, you know, it’s just about now just keep getting the reps, keep putting myself in these types of positions.
This hurts, but it’s part of competition, it’s part of sports, but I’m right where I need to be.
After the match, Townsend said she leaned on “love and hugs” from her team. Her four-year-old son, A.J. (Adyn Aubrey Johnson), was on hand to witness her run.
