Taylor Townsend makes successful return to tennis as a mother
The former world No 61 played her first match in 20 months and came out a winner in her first round singles and doubles matches
Taylor Townsend (Zuma / Panoramic)
American tennis player Taylor Townsend made a successful return to the women’s circuit as a mother, winning her first-round singles and doubles match at the ITF $100K event in Palm Beach, Florida this week.
The 25-year-old Townsend last competed on the tour at the 2020 US Open (reaching the women’s doubles semi-finals and losing in the singles first round) and gave birth to her son Adyn Aubrey in March 2021.
The American left-hander, now ranked No 483 in the world, scored a 6-2, 6-2 win over fellow American Hanna Chang, ranked No 219 in the world. She will next meet Swedish player Miriam Bjorklund, the world No 159, for a spot in the quarter-finals.
In doubles, Taylor Townsend and partner Robin Anderson defeated Catherine Harrison and Maegan Manasse 6-3, 7-6 and will next meet Irina Maria Bara/ Lucrezia Stefanini.
During her maternity break, the former world No 61 stayed in touch with tennis, becoming an analyst on the sport for Tennis Channel and won praise for her performance in front of the camera.
Taylor Townsend was the ITF Junior World Champion in 2012
Townsend was the ITF Junior World Champion in 2012 when she finished that season as the world’s top-ranked junior. She won the junior Australian Open titles in both singles and doubles, and three out of the four junior Grand Slam doubles titles in 2012.
Her biggest result on the pro singles tour came in the second round of the 2019 US Open where she stunned fourth seed Simona Halep, of Romania, for her first top 10 win and went on to reach the fourth round. She also has 1 WTA Tour doubles title and 10 ITF Tour singles titles to her credit.
Townsend is the latest to join the WTA Moms club, which currently includes Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Elena Vesnina, Tsvetana Pironkova, Tatjana Maria and Sania Mirza.
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