Taylor Townsend has taken to social media to show off her hard work in the gym ahead of the US Open. Currently the world No. 1 in doubles, the American had a rough introduction to tennis when the United States Tennis Association decided to cut her funding while she was the top-ranked junior due to weight and fitness issues.
She was also reportedly denied wildcards and even discouraged from entering the junior US Open draw while she was the world No. 1 girls’ player at the age of 16. But Townsend had the last laugh.
The American is now a two-time Major doubles champion, having won Wimbledon and the Australian Open alongside Katerina Siniakova. She recently reached the top of the rankings.
Townsend is hoping to lift the trophy at her home Grand Slam tournament for the first time, and she’s been putting in the work ahead of the main draw.
The 29-year-old took to her Instagram stories to share her progress with a mirror selfie, writing: “Moment of appreciation for my hard work. Keep going after your goals people!”
Townsend has all the more reason to be proud of her transformation after a tough experience with the USTA as a junior.
Even though she was the world No. 1 in the girls’ singles rankings, the USTA stopped funding her travel to tournaments until she ‘slimmed down’.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the USTA requested that Townsend skip the junior US Open, even though she was clearly ranked high enough to compete.
Patrick McEnroe, who was the general manager of the USTA player development programme at the time, said: “Our concern is her long-term health, number one, and her long-term development as a player.
“We have one goal in mind: For her to be playing in [Arthur Ashe Stadium] in the main draw and competing for major titles when it’s time. That’s how we make every decision, based on that.”
Townsend got back at McEnroe when she reached the US Open women’s doubles final with Caty McNally three years ago. McEnroe was part of the trophy presentation party for the ceremony.
During her speech, Townsend told him: “I’ve put in the work, I’ve earned my way to be here, and everyone can see that.”
The American later said: “I meant what I said, I said what I meant. I wasn’t given anything. I really had to work my a** off to get here and to be able to play at this level. That’s just point-blank, period.
“It gives me the confidence to be able to know I can be out here with anybody, to be able to do it so soon within a year, that just gives me so much more confidence to know where I can go as I continue to build, as I continue to get more matches.”
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