From the moment Taylor Townsend picked up a racket, Donald Young and his family have been part of her life.
She initially used her right hand but switched to her left after being inspired by Young, who also plays left-handed.
Young’s mother played doubles with Townsend’s mother, and his father was Townsend’s first coach. As a fellow Black tennis player from Chicago, Young helped Townsend believe that a professional tennis career was achievable.
That’s why it is so special that Townsend might help Young end his career with a Grand Slam title.
Young and Townsend have reached the U.S. Open mixed doubles final, which will be Young’s last match before he retires from tennis.
“This is the decision, I’m happy with it and hopefully go one more, and it’d be really a dream come true and kind of a storybook ending for me,” Young said.
They won against the No. 8-seed team of Aldila Sutjiadi and Rohan Bopanna 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals on Tuesday night. Townsend, 28, expressed to the fans that she wouldn’t be on the court in front of them if not for Young’s influence.
Young was the top junior player in 2005, a year after he turned professional. He had become a rising star in American men’s tennis, and Townsend saw his successes up close.
“Him winning junior Wimbledon, junior Australian Open, going onto the tour, breaking out on tour and then coming home and being able to bring that accomplishment to us and being able to see that stuff, it was the closest that I ever had to being near anyone that was doing this at this level,” Townsend said.
