Taylor Townsend had a titanic performance on Friday. It was her victory over the younger Mirra Andreeva a couple months ago, 7-5, 6-2 in the third round of the US Open. With a clear and decisive victory, Townsend moves on to the fourth round! There, she will face off with the very difficult two-time Grand Slam singles champion, Barbora Krejčíková. She is now one step away from her best-ever performance at a grand slam singles tournament. This phenomenal accomplishment is a repeat of her incredible run at the 2019 US Open.
What a match, 76 minutes of high drama. Townsend exhibited phenomenal form — particularly at the net, where she just shadowed Andreeva all over the court — in the lopsided victory over her 134-ranked opponent on the WTA rankings. In a personal story that infused the performance with artistry and life, Townsend’s flaming, phoenix-emblazoned ensemble represented her rebirth. As she told us on the tour, the design evokes the notion of leaving behind your old self and coming out new.
“It wasn’t hard, because I stood in my truth,” Townsend stated after her match. She thanked her supporters, touching on the power of representation in sports.
“It’s bigger than me, it’s about the message, it’s about the representation … You guys saw the real Taylor Townsend tonight,” – Taylor Townsend
Townsend’s journey through this year’s tournament has been marked by controversy. After her 2R match with Jelena Ostapenko, tempers boiled over when Ostapenko accused Townsend of having no “class” and “education.” This incident drew criticism from former champion Naomi Osaka, who described Ostapenko’s comments as “one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport.” Lily Osaka explored further on Twitter in the meaning of those words. She focused on the larger issue of race in tennis, how it shapes the experience of players like Townsend.
Ostapenko provided further context to her frustrations. As an example, they emerged when Townsend reaped the reward of a net cord and didn’t apologize during play. Though rattled from the incident, Townsend didn’t lose her concentration from putting on a captivating show.
As this tournament rolls along, Townsend’s remarkable resilience and rare talent make it hard not to root for her. But now, she’s looking ahead to that fourth round against Krejčíková. Her aim would be to capitalize on her momentum and cement her legacy as one of the all-time greats of tennis history.
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