MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

July 22, 2025

Taylor Townsend

Quick Quotes

T. TOWNSEND/T. Maria

6-4, 7-5

Q. How are you feeling?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I feel great. You know, like I said, today was the coolest day that I have played in. So I was, like, I don't have a pool underneath me. So I'm feeling really good.

You know, it's always super fun to be able to play with a new partner, as well, and to end the day like that, I think we played some really amazing tennis.

Yeah, I've played against Shuai quite a lot, and to share the same side of the court with her finally -- I texted her before we started playing. I was, like, Hey, I'm just really excited to be on the same side.

So it was a great way to end the day.

Q. In doubles you play Venus next.

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Yeah.

Q. What are your thoughts on her being back? There's a lot of excitement for her doubles. She plays singles later tonight. What are thoughts on seeing her back on tour?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I think it's amazing. Honestly, I commend her so much for being out here. Like I said, it was 92 degrees and she was doing 2-on-1s with some young guys. I was, like, this is why she's a champion.

Also, you know, I just think it's amazing to be able to share the court with her, to see her out here playing at a certain level.

And also, you know, I had a feeling the other day where I was practicing and I saw kids looking at me outside of the fence and watching me practice and filming. I know that feeling, because I felt that way watching her.

So it's, like, I feel at this tournament, like, a heavy inspiring the next generation. You know, like I really see a lot of, like, young girls, young boys who are out and their eyes are so big and bright and so excited.

So I kind of have a really strong sense of gratitude to be here. I think that us being able to share the court together is another one of those moments that people will be able to say, wow, like, this is so amazing.

Q. How about your singles win?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Yeah, what about it?

Q. What put you over the top?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I think I did a really great job of, like, managing her difficult style of play. You know, we don't play a lot of players who play that way and who hit consistently slices and shots like that. You know, even Barty, she sliced a lot off the backhand, but she was really, really aggressive with her forehand.

Tatjana slices on both sides a lot. So for me I felt like it was really difficult to gauge, like, my shots and not overplay, and I think that's what was happening in the second set. I was overhitting a lot. Then I kind of was able to just reel it in, and I went inward. I was just, like -- I was getting a little frustrated, not going to lie. I think that's a key of her game, as well, is to frustrate her opponents and to making you feel like you're playing bad. So for me I kind of had to just go inward.

My son was in the corner, and I hit a shot that I thought was so bad and he was, like, Wow, great shot, Mom. I was, all right, Taylor, let's go.

Sometimes it's the little things that can snap you out of your head and just -- it was able to take me from being inside and being in my head to just focus on what was going on on the court.

Q. Tatjana, she's kind of the archetype for moms on tour. Her daughter is like 10.

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: 11.

Q. Yeah. Something like that. What does it mean to see her out there, and does that show it's possible for that chapter of your career, to really have a long time at it? You obviously were a fairly young mom too on tour. What do you think when you see her and her family around at these tournaments?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I think it's amazing. A funny story is I actually was at a challenger, Tevlon-something (phonetic) in Canada when she had just had Charlotte. Charlotte was maybe six months old, and her hair was black, and she had these big blue eyes.

I was like, Oh, my God, this is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen in my life. She looked just like her husband. Her husband was on the side of the court, coaching, she was playing, and I was, like, Oh, my gosh, this lady is a superhero. She had just had Charlotte. Now she has another daughter.

So it's funny that, like, I remember thinking, like, no, she's super, like, next level, because I could never -- at the time, I was like I can't imagine doing that. Oh, my God. Now look at me.

So yeah, I think that she is one of the OG moms on tour. But I look at it more so of her being able to have such great success, and some of the best success of her career as being a mother of two, making the semifinals I believe of Wimbledon, she just won the 500 in Queen's.

You know, sometimes I feel like, well, back in the day in sports, women had to choose between being mothers and starting a family or continuing to play, and it is happening. It's alive that you can say, hey, I want to do both. This doesn't have to stop me.

There are so many women across sports, soccer, football, tennis, many sports, basketball, that are coming back and doing even better.

Like body's better, like, snap. Like looking amazing and feeling amazing and playing differently and have different motivations. Have a ton of respect for her because it's not easy to do this two times.

It was an honor to share the court with her. Even cooler, both of our kids are watching us play. How cool is that.

Q. You and Ben are on the mixed doubles entry list for the US Open. Wonder what you make of the changes they're making to that tournament, to that discipline, and what you make of that?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Well, I think there are a lot of people -- most people are afraid of what they don't understand or they're afraid of change. It's something we don't understand because this has never been done in the history of the sport. So it's really hard to comment and say, Oh, it's good, it's bad. You know what I'm saying?

I don't feel that way. I'm very, very excited to play. I'm super stoked to be able to be on the same side of the court with Ben again. We had so much fun in 2023. I'm excited about the field.

You know, but I think that it's one of those things we're going to have to see. I think that really everyone has to keep an open mind and not judge it and go into it as, like, looking at it from the lens of tradition and what things have been. Because this is nothing like anything that's been done in the sport before.

So, you know, the only thing I would say is encourage everyone, players, spectators, media, to look at it from an open mind and just embrace and see, like, how it goes, you know. And everyone is going to have an opinion, obviously.

But I'm excited to play, and I'm excited to see how things go, because the field is amazing. The players are spectacular. And I think it's really cool to be able to also do this during Fan Week and quallies week where then you're bringing an influx of fans, people, celebrities, all of these different types, these energies that are coming to the tournament, whereas sometimes that doesn't happen until that Memorial Day weekend, that middle weekend where people have time off.

But now this pre-school, the week before school starts. You know, I'm excited, and there are so many things around it too. You have Ashe Kids' Day, all of the kids events, you have all the clinics and stuff for the kids as well. I'm really excited for the viewership and the exposure to the game in this way.

Q. Tomorrow, I think you'll be on John Harris again. Venus and Hailey drew a big crowd there yesterday. What do you anticipate tomorrow? Are you able to appreciate the atmosphere while at the same time obviously you have a job to do?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Yeah, I'm going to enjoy it. You know, today was my first match playing with Shuai. I really enjoyed it. I don't have any expectations, honestly. I'm just going to go and play tennis and just play my game.

In tennis there always has to be a winner and a loser. I want to be on the winning side and I'm going to do everything I can to be on the winning side. I'm going to enjoy it, and I think it's going to be fun.

Again, I have such a tremendous amount of respect for Venus. For Hailey to be able to do this in her hometown, and she's been doing phenomenal, just got named for Billie Jean King Cup team. We're going to be teammates in a couple of months. I'm excited about that. Like you said, I still have a job to do.

Q. I wanted to ask about your outfit. You had announced you're doing your own branding. Is that a conscious decision rather than going out and look for a sponsorship where you're just another name in the group of players that are in that brand? Are you trying to separate yourself a little bit?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Girl, you know the answer to that question (smiling).

No, but this is a very intentional and conscious choice. I have had many accomplishments and have proven myself two, three, four, five, six times over. I'm No. 2 in the world in doubles. I don't have a clothing sponsor. I have two Grand Slam titles, I don't have a clothing sponsor.

There are people who have never reached or done anything that I have done, and showed up in Australia, new kits, new contracts. I'm like, dang, they signing people this year. You know what I'm saying?

But it's okay. Because that's why the theme of my collection for pre-US Open is Resilience, because there have been so many times I have been told no or have had the door turned on me or the door has never been opened, right?

And you would think and assume that being a two-time Grand Slam champion, No. 2 in the world in doubles, career high ranking inside the top 50 in singles, that it deserves the eyes of a brand, right? You would think. But it hasn't.

There was nobody knocking at my door during offseason. That's okay. So I've always wanted to do my own thing anyway. And I said this the other day, I don't have the most titles, the most prize money, the most anything. I'm not like rolling around dough or anything like that, but I have the right team around me to be able to bring this vision to life, and that's what's the most important.

I have people who believe in me and believe in not only who I am but also where I'm going. They see that. They're like, let's ball, let's roll. I'm going to take matters into my own hands. I'm not going to wait -- I've been waiting since 2017. I haven't had a clothing sponsor since 2017. I've been waiting for a very long time, and the waiting is over.

Now I'm going to take it into my own hands and do my own thing and watch. People are going to start doing what I'm doing. I guarantee you. But I also hope I can inspire other athletes to bet on themselves. That's the biggest thing. I'm betting on myself. Me and my team, we're betting on me. And we gonna see how it goes. But it's doing pretty well so far.