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MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN


July 26, 2025


Taylor Townsend


Washington D.C.

Quick Quotes


TOWNSEND-SHUAI/Raducanu-Rybakina

4-1, [Ret.]

Q. How does it feel being the new No. 1? What does that mean to you to attain something I know since you were a little girl that was a bucket-list item?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Yeah, I mean, honestly I'm just beaming inside. I'm so proud. It's been a lot of really hard work. I always saw myself as one of the greatest doubles players. You know, to be No. 1 is something so special and phenomenal.

Yeah, I mean, I'm just honestly, like, a little speechless, because it has been a dream. You know, it's been a really rocky road to get to places. I knew that it was something that I have dreamt of, but it always seemed super far off, and it seemed like so many things had to happen in order for that to become a reality. And so many things have happened for it to become a reality. So I'm really proud.

Q. Some folks, men, women, they'll get there early in their career. Is the journey maybe more satisfying? Maybe not the way you drew it up, but does it make it more satisfying?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: This is the most satisfying journey that I think I could ever have had. Being able to attain the No. 1 after having my son and, you know, like, going through trials and tribulations and being able to even have the results of being a two-time Grand Slam champion, winning Masters 1000s, and accomplishing things that I had never accomplished before having my son, like, I think that makes it the most amazing.

You know, these last four years have been -- really three, because 2022 when I came back, I didn't play a full season. I think I maybe played, like, eight events, if that.

So, you know, this is my third full season back on tour since having AJ, and so to be able to accomplish this in three years is honestly phenomenal.

Q. Would you have had it in mind? Would it have been realistic when you returned at that point to think about this? I don't know if your expectations were modest when you came back or if you believed in the competitor that you are, okay, we could return to that being the ultimate goal?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Well, it wasn't a return because I had never been there. When I came back, I said I'm going to be better than I was when I left. That was my only goal.

I have been saying that. I didn't know what that meant. I didn't know what that was going to entail. But that's just what I said, and that's the promise that I made to myself, and I did that.

It's been a lot of ups and downs, but it wasn't a return. Like I have said many times, I have accomplished a lot of firsts. And it's really cool. I mean, even at Wimbledon was the first time for me qualifying at Wimbledon in my career.

So, you know, it's really cool to still be able to accomplish firsts after being on tour for 12 or 13 years. You know, this is a very, very special first for me. I was telling my friends, I'm, like, The first time only happens one time, so I want to make sure that I document it and take my photos and videos.

I'm really excited just to be able to kind of marinate in this moment with my loved ones.

Q. Have you heard from anybody, congratulatory notes or messages, calls?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Well, it's funny, because I hopped on the phone trying to talk to my coach, because I'm in quallies of Montreal which starts tomorrow. So I'm on my phone trying to figure out, what should I do, flights, you know, just trying to figure out -- so that's actually the first call that I made, because I was kind of put on the spot to try and figure out scheduling for tomorrow.

That was the first thing. But, you know, being able to hug Shuai, and shouts out to her, because she has been asking me to play for a lot of years. She said, Hey, I'm going to come here because I want you to be No. 1.

Q. She knew.

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Well, I don't know if she knew, but she said, You're No. 1 in my mind, and these three tournaments before US Open, these are for you. Whatever you need from me, this is from you.

It's not often you find someone so selfless and so openly vocal about wanting you to be your best, because we are all competitors, right? People don't really talk about that. Hey, this is for you.

Tennis is a very selfish sport. It always has to be about me, me, me. So I thanked her so much, just thank you for being here, because if it wasn't for her, it wouldn't have happened.

I'm really, really excited. But yeah, I'm beaming inside.

Q. I asked Frances in press yesterday just what he thought about you. He said some really nice things. But he also said you were clowning him and comparing him to a certain McDonaldland character.

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: A very specific one.

Q. Can you talk about that, we talked about your brand and fashion, just what you make of his apparel choice?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I told him. I said, I'm going to come to your match and scream (singing McDonald's jingle). Ronald McDonald, my man.

The thing is I'm very honest, so it's -- I tell him to his face. I tell Jill, I'm very honest.

Not my favorite. Not my favorite. The blue, loved it. The monochromatic baby blue, absolutely loved that. Gave him his flowers.

It's not my favorite. Hey, everyone has his day.

Q. You're telling the truth?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I'm always going to tell the truth. Hopefully, this is only for here. I'm gonna just say that.

Q. The significance of the US Open for you, a big event, a lot of players talk about it's the most important event. 2019, you had that amazing run, and obviously you had stuff when you were a junior there. Can you talk about just what the US Open has meant for you and the highs and lows of your tennis journey?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Yeah, I mean, being an American tennis player, the US Open is always like the pinnacle for us. You know, I was able to, as a young kid, to like go and participate in Ashe Kids' Day and do the hit the targets. I was on court with Serena, Rafa. I had to write an essay to do it.

Q. What was your essay about?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I have no idea. Not gonna lie to you. I remember being in the tunnel, oh, my god, I was this little kid with glasses. Mom, please buy a new outfit. I want to look nice on Arthur Ashe Court.

I have pictures. It's always been such a monumental event for anyone who's played tennis for so many reasons. It's star-studded, fashionable. Fashion Week is right after. Now that I'm older, I know Fashion Week is right after the US Open.

It's meant so much. It's always a place that I've come back, and it brings a certain type of energy to me and it kind of charges me up. I get a battery pack in my back when I go to New York. It brings a certain energy I love and I feed off of.

The support that we get finally, like the tail end of the season, when you have been playing internationally and you may have your fans not like that, right? You're in your home where the people really are just rooting for you so hard and heavy.

So it's kind of the tail end of the season where you have that support, and it feels so great. But I, you know, I have always had great memories, even in the midst of, like, you know, the hard things that I went through. I remember, like, not being able to play the seniors, being No. 1, but then I said, you know, I'm playing the juniors and I end up winning the junior doubles there.

That was such a huge moment for me, because I was just, like, you know, kind of like sticking it to you. You're not going to take something away from me that I've earned. It's kind of funny because now, full-circle moment, I'm here, standing here in D.C., in the US Open Series and No. 1 now in the world in doubles, and something that I earned.

You know, no one can take that from me and no one can strip that from me. I don't care if it lasts a day, a week, whatever. I'm just going to embrace it, enjoy. I'm so proud of myself. I'm super excited to be here today and continue to play some really great tennis leading up to the US Open and hopefully play my best tennis when I get there.

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