NEW YORK – Taylor Townsend’s amazing win over fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva at the US Open has put her back in the singles spotlight, ten years after a controversial ruling by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) almost ended her career. The current doubles world number one is 29 years old and is demonstrating a new level of confidence and maturity as she makes her deepest run in a Grand Slam singles tournament since 2019.
The USTA Controversy of 2012
Townsend was the best junior player in the world in 2012, when he was 16 years old. The USTA, on the other hand, told her she couldn’t play in the US Open junior event and wouldn’t give her a wild card into the main draw or qualifying because they were “concerned about her fitness.” Patrick McEnroe was in charge of the USTA’s player development program at the time. They wouldn’t pay for her tournament costs unless she dropped weight and got in better shape. Tennis greats like Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova were quite upset with the move, and Townsend’s mother had to pay for her daughter’s trip to the tournament.
Recent success and career stats
Since that important moment, Townsend has built a prosperous career, especially in doubles, and has become a strong singles player again. She has now made it to the Round of 16 in singles at a Grand Slam for the second time, after beating Andreeva. The first time was at the 2019 US Open, when she beat then-No. 4 Simona Halep.
Singles: Her highest singles ranking is No. 46, which she got on August 19, 2024. Her singles ranking is No. 143 as of August 18, 2025.
Doubles: Townsend has had a great career in doubles. She is the current WTA world No. 1 in doubles. She got this ranking for the first time on July 28, 2025. She has won 10 doubles titles in her career, including two Grand Slam doubles titles: the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and the 2025 Australian Open. She won both with her partner Kateřina Siniaková. She has also made it to the finals of two further Grand Slam doubles events: the 2022 US Open and the 2023 French Open.
Townsend’s career has had its highs and lows, but being a player and now a mother has given her a new sense of purpose. Her tactical knowledge is shown by how well she played at the US Open. For example, she used her doubles skills to come to the net 29 times and win 21 of those points against Andreeva.
Townsend has become a key player in the event following a heated exchange with Jelena Ostapenko on the court, during which Ostapenko allegedly told her she had “no class” and “no education.” The event, which sparked conversations about race in tennis, has earned Townsend more attention than ever before. She saw it as a chance to be “unapologetically yourself.” As she moves forward in the US Open, her tale shows how strong she is and how important it is to speak up for yourself both on and off the court.