Chicago Native Taylor Townsend Secures First Grand Slam Title After Winning Doubles at Wimbledon

She’s emerged victorious!

Taylor Townsend won her first Grand Slam title this weekend, winning doubles with partner Katerina Siniakova at Wimbledon. The Czech-American duo seeded No. 4, defeating Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe in straight sets, Sportskeeda reports. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Taylor Townsend (@tay_taytownsend)

Townsend had previously made it to two other doubles Slam finals, at the 2022 US Open and the 2023 French Open. Despite losing at both, Townsend had already had a remarkable story of perseverance, previously ranking No. 1 at the junior level and winning the 2013 Australian Open girls singles and doubles. 

However, in 2012, Townsend was prevented from competing at the US Open junior tournament by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) due to being what they deemed “overweight.” The USTA decided not to fund Townsend’s trip to Flushing Meadows, and Townsend paid out of pocket to enter the junior tournament, reaching the quarterfinals before losing. 

The budding tennis star would later write about that time for the Players Tribune in 2021, calling the experience extraordinarily frustrating and saying, “It hurt really bad.” 

“Why is my ranking saying I’m the best in the world…and my doctor is saying I’m okay to play…and meanwhile the USTA is saying I need to see a nutritionist..and lose some weight??? It made no sense. It was confusing as hell. And it hurt – it hurt really bad,” said Townsend. 

Now 28 years old and a mother, Townsend credits her own mom for shielding her from a lot of the vitriol at the time, reminding her that she was a child and they would handle the “adult matters.” Now, twelve years after the discriminatory incident, Townsend has emerged victorious, securing her first Grand Slam Title at Wimbledon. 

First Grand Slam together, first title together ?

Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend defeat Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe 7-6(5), 7-6(1) to claim the Ladies' Doubles Trophy ?#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/wOCXcMAqp6

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2024

“I’ve been close a couple of times so it really means a lot to be able to get over the finish line here and to do it at Wimbledon is so special,” Townsend told  reporters.