Over a decade after her body and commitment were doubted, the American became the Open’s most compelling presence amid controversy, prejudice and triumph
Chandra Rubin left the door open. Slotted into hosting Friday’s US Open women’s doubles trophy presentation, the respected former American great kicked off the festivities at Arthur Ashe Stadium by inviting the runners-up to the mic on center court to speak freely. “Really? I just get to talk?” Taylor Townsend said. “As long as you want,” Rubin warmly assured.
The 29-year-old American and world No 1 in doubles had already made quite the statement over the past fortnight. Well, three weeks if you count her run in the mixed doubles bracket with compatriot Ben Shelton in the US Open’s newly extended format. After that came a dazzling unseeded run to the fourth round of the singles that saw her beat the Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva for her third ever victory against a top-five player before taking a tough three-set loss to two-time slam champion Barbora Krejcikova, the American matching the career high-water mark she reached in 2019. Thirteen years after becoming tennis-famous as the world’s No 1 junior, Townsend had became an overnight mainstream sensation: No player in New York gained more Instagram followers in week one.
