US OPEN

August 30, 2025

Taylor Townsend

Press Conference

T. TOWNSEND/M. Andreeva

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations.

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Thank you.

Q. Six years ago you also beat a top-5 seed. Which victory feels better and why?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: They're different, completely different. Are you talking about 2019, right?

Q. Right.

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: In 2019 I felt like I was, like, climbing, and I was trying to get over the hump, and there were, like, so many opportunities where I was, like, I almost got there and didn't get it. Almost got there and didn't get it. I felt like that match, when I played Halep was a turning point for me where I got over that hump of finally just, I got one, you know what I'm saying?

I just felt like it helped validate me as a player, and then I was able to continue, and then I ended up losing to Bianca in three sets and she ended up winning the tournament.

This time it just feels completely different. I wasn't searching for anything, I wasn't looking, trying to find answers; I had all the answers in here.

I was so confident and so sure of myself and what I was doing and how I was executing, that it didn't matter if I hit the back fence, hit the bottom of the net, it didn't matter. I just kept going.

So it just felt completely different. I'm a totally different person than I was in 2019, and I think that that showed. That's what's really cool about tennis in these moments, you're able to reflect and look even at the mannerisms and how I carried myself then and now, you'll be able to see it's a different woman.

Q. I know you've played on Ashe plenty of times before, but does walking out on that stadium for a prime-time match mean anything extra to you given your history with the US Open and the USTA and all that?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Yeah, I love being able to walk out on that court. It's funny, because I don't think the last time I played it was the fireworks and the smoke and all that stuff. It makes for a great photo.

But, yeah, it's always very special to me. It's such a beautiful court. The atmosphere is unlike any other. Truly, it's unlike any other.

When I walked out, I wasn't nervous at all. Like, when I walked out, at first I had music in, and I took my headphones out and I turned my phone off because I wanted to hear everything. I wanted to hear the people. I wanted to hear the noise. I wanted to hear them call my name and for me to be able to walk out through that tunnel and to see everything. I wanted to be 100% present in that moment. I loved it. So I'm happy that I made that choice.

But every time, you know, whether it's third round or Grand Slam final, it's something that, you know, is unlike any other thing. It's special every time, honestly.

Q. There is something to be said about letting adversity be your footstool. When I say that to you, what are your thoughts in response?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: Yeah, I mean, I think that's one of the reasons why I did the phoenix kit for myself. You know, like I said, a phoenix is, you know, a made-up creature, but the premise is you having to burn or lose your old self in order to emerge as something new.

I feel like that's indicative of my career, me as a person, me as a woman, me as a player. You know, as a tennis player, you know, people have always said, Oh, you're so talented, you have so many weapons, you have so many things you can do, but... There was always a "but."

I feel like the work I've been put in and all the things I've been doing has eliminated that "but." I'm emerging as a new person. I feel like today I leveled up. I'm really just so proud of myself. I'm so proud of the way I showed up tonight, the way that I handled business, the way I kept my head on.

It was funny, even my kit prior to the US Open, like, in D.C. and Cincinnati and all that, the theme was gems, and we were pulling on, you know, diamond in the rough, and with a diamond, it's when it's rough you don't know what it looks like, but when it's polished, it's beautiful.

So, you know, through all the things that I've gone through, you know, it's only been polishing and shaping and molding. Now you guys see the nice shiny object.

But it's been a lot of hard work behind the scenes. You know, I'm just so proud of the way that I'm showing up.

Q. Can you just try and explain what the last sort of 48 hours has been like and how hard was it just to try and focus on the tennis and kind of shut out all the noise?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: It hasn't been hard at all. You know, I said to my team, I'm made for this type of stuff.

I really feel like, you know, it wasn't hard, because I stood in my truth. So there was, I didn't have to defend anything that I said. What I said, I said, and I meant.

So, you know, for me, it was also good because I had doubles the next day. So I had to get right back on the page, because at the end of the day, I would never allow any drama or anything on the outside to deter me from what my goal is when I step into the lines on the court. When I step into those gates, nothing that's happening on the outside matters.

That's how I was raised and I'm really embodying that thought process. When I got out onto the court, when I got onto the practice court, when I got out onto the match court, it was about business. It was the same tonight.

You know, it's a different type of challenge, right? It's a different type of exposure, and, you know, my social media and all of the, you know, people being able to have access and things to say. I said to my team, Dang, I didn't know this many people had my phone number. So many text messages and stuff, just trying to filter through those things.

But I also, I really took the time to be intentional to, like, shut it off. When I got to the hotel and I said, Okay, I'm done. I put my phone down and I put it on "do not disturb." I stopped. In the morning I cut it off.

So when it's time to do the job, it's time to do the job. And that's what I think is a testament to being professional, being able to block out what's on the outside and when you step in the lines you handle business.

Q. You've spoken about your focus just now, but what about the confidence that you exude and that you have described. To what do you attribute that confidence?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: I attribute it to experience and doing the work. I've been working on myself, and I think, you know, anyone in the media could see that over the years and over the time that I've become a new person. As I continue to talk to you guys, there are things I found out or realized about myself and I'm very vocal about that.

I've just been doing the self-work, and I realize that a lot of the stuff had nothing to do with hitting a tennis ball. It was all between the ears.

Tennis is 85, 90% mental. For me, I accepted that that was my downfall and that was my flaw, and I decided to dive into that. It's been uncomfortable, it hasn't been easy, but I'm doing the work. And I'm saying "doing," because it's an ongoing thing. It's not a thing where you do it and it's like, Okay, cool. Check. It's an ongoing process.

Even out on the court, having to adjust, oh, I hit that to the back fence. All right, that was embarrassing. All right, next point. Really having to keep a short memory.

You know, for me, the confidence is I'm glad that you guys see it, but it's something that's pure and it's something that's just me. I'm just here. I'm on full display, I'm not hiding, I'm not scared to show my true colors. I'm not scared to open up my vest and show you guys vulnerability or how I'm feeling or anything like that.

I think that as I've matured and I've understood myself more, I'm able to keep those things in check and I'm able to continue to just take care of business, and when it's time to be out on the court and it's time to do the things, I'm just focusing on those things.

Q. I know you've blocked some things out, but I'm sure you've seen the volume of support you've gotten. I think your Instagram followers have roughly doubled. You're staying who you are, but a lot of people are encountering you for the first time and liking and resonating with you. How gratifying is that to be having this moment, to be getting on Ashe probably more for you than for the No. 5 player in the world across the net? How does that feel to have this moment, having people seeing you and support what it is that you're standing for?

TAYLOR TOWNSEND: That's a really interesting question. I never thought about it that way, but you're very right. This is the some people's first time interacting and finding out who Taylor Townsend is, right? There's a lot of familiar faces in here, but there are a lot of people who maybe didn't have any idea who I was.

That's a great point. You know, people being able to see me now, but then being able to go back and go back into history or my history and follow my journey and figure out how has she gotten here, I think that's super cool, and I think that's one of the things that people are resonating with.

You know, it's been amazing. You know, even before all this stuff happened, prior to the tournament starting, I did my popup shop and I hosted a couple of events during Fan Week after the mixed doubles. And I just said it's not often you get a chance to be up close and personal with people who have been following you since you were a junior.

I just have gotten so much love and support on a personal level from fans and people who are just really supporting and rocking with me. I took that and I'm, like, Wow, this is amazing.

So, you know, it can be a lot at times, but the great thing is a lot of this stuff has been happening on social media, so it is kind of a distance away from it, as well.

But I'm embracing it. I'm embracing it and enjoying it. Like I said, it's cool because I'm just showing up as myself so I don't have to be anything else but me. If you like it, you like it. If you don't, you don't. Whatever.

I think that's the cool thing, because I'm just truly showing up as myself, and I think people see that and I think it's cool they like what I see. I think I'm pretty cool. I think I'm funny. I think that's all that matters.

So, yeah, it's cool, but I'm enjoying the journey, enjoying the ride. It's not over yet. Got doubles tomorrow, so I'll see you guys tomorrow. (Laughter.)