Taylor Townsend reflects after US Open renaissance: “I’m exactly where I need to be”

NEW YORK—Taylor Townsend was in tears after letting eight match points slip away on Sunday at the US Open, but she didn’t let the defeat keep her down for long.

Currently ranked No. 139, the 29-year-old came within a point of her first Grand Slam quarterfinal time and again against two-time major champion Barbora Krejcikova in the fourth round.

In the end, it was Krejcikova who prevailed after a marathon three-hour, four-minute battle on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The Czech star saved seven match points in a dramatic 25-minute second-set tiebreak before rallying to win 1-6, 7-6 (13), 6-3.

Read More: Taylor Townsend, 13 years after being denied a US Open wild card, is in her element in New York

I truly believe that this whole tournament has been a game changer for me. Taylor Townsend

“I think everything happens for a reason… this was part of the plan,” Townsend said afterward. “We still got a lot of tennis to play, and I’m still here for the doubles.

“You never know what type of catalyst or catapult that this match could be to propel me forward. I truly believe that this whole tournament has been a game changer for me.”

The loss ended Townsend’s best singles run at a Slam since the 2019 US Open, when she upset Simona Halep en route to the fourth round. Since then, injuries, time away to have her son, and the grind of rebuilding her career meant essentially starting over from scratch.

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.

And her tournament isn’t over, as Townsend competed in two other disciplines: She reached the mixed doubles quarterfinals last week with Ben Shelton, and is through to the round of 16 in women’s doubles alongside Katerina Siniakova.

“I’m not done here. I have doubles tomorrow. I’m going to do everything that I can to hoist the trophy here,” Townsend said. “I know I can do it, me and my partner (Katerina Siniakova) have done it before.

“This is just motivating me to keep doing the things that I know I can do to be a champion.”

Read More: Barbora Krejcikova saves eight match points to end Taylor Townsend’s US Open run

Townsend and Siniakova are the No. 1 seeds, reigning Australian Open champions, and winners of Wimbledon in 2024. Townsend currently holds the No. 1 doubles ranking, with Siniakova at No. 2.

They’ll face unseeded Yue Yuan and Camila Osorio in the round of 16 on Monday.