With eye-catching flame designs on her sleeves, Taylor Townsend pulled off a stunning upset against world number five, Mirra Andreeva, winning 7-5, 6-2 at the US Open this past Friday.
This was especially remarkable as Townsend recently found herself under the spotlight after a heated verbal exchange with Jelena Ostapenko earlier in the week. She explained the flame design symbolizes phoenixes, representing rebirth and transformation for her.
After her victory over Andreeva, she stated, “The idea is that you have to shed your old self in order to become something new. I feel that’s reflective of my journey, who I am as a woman and athlete.” She even wore a fiery skirt in her match against Ostapenko.
In only 76 minutes, Townsend, who ranks far lower than Andreeva in the WTA rankings, reached the fourth round, matching her best result in a grand slam, previously achieved during the 2019 US Open.
Notably known more for her doubles gameplay – she is the reigning champion of the Australian Open in women’s doubles and boasts a world number one ranking – Townsend effectively leveraged her skills at the net to secure the win.
Reflecting on the match, she remarked, “People often told me, ‘You’re so talented, you have so many options,’ but there was always a ‘but.’ Now, I believe the efforts I’ve put forth have erased that sense of limitation. I feel renewed.”
This victory comes on the heels of the tension created by her confrontation with Ostapenko, who remarked that Townsend exhibited “no class” in the second-round match. Naomi Osaka publicly denounced these comments, calling them some of the worst statements one could say to a Black tennis player in a predominantly white sport.
Osaka expressed, “I think it was poorly timed and inappropriate for anyone to say that to her. She likely lacks awareness of America’s context on this matter and, honestly, I don’t believe she’ll ever make such comments again.”
The clash started due to disputed sportsmanship issues, where Townsend failed to apologize after being aided by the net cord during a crucial point. Ostapenko elaborated about this incident on social media, inadequately capturing the environment of sportsmanship.
The controversy intensified scrutiny on Townsend, yet the 29-year-old asserted she wasn’t fazed. “It wasn’t challenging for me at all,” she commented. “I’m grounded in my truth, so I don’t need to defend anything.”
The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium showed their support, giving her a standing ovation as she expressed appreciation to everyone who rallied behind her in such a short time leading to this match.
“This means more than just tennis to me. It carries a powerful message about representation. You all witnessed the authentic me tonight,” she concluded.
Looking ahead, Townsend is set to clash with Barbora Krejcikova, a two-time grand slam singles champion, in the upcoming fourth round.
Report contributed by CNN’s Jill Martin.
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