Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori won the U.S. Open mixed doubles title with a 7-6 (0), 7-5 win on Thursday against Taylor Townsend and Donald Young, who fell just short of a Grand Slam title in his final match before retiring.
Errani, who previously achieved a career Grand Slam in women’s doubles with fellow Italian Roberta Vinci, secured her first mixed doubles title, adding to the Olympic gold medal in women’s doubles she won last month with Jasmine Paolini.
“It’s incredible for me this year. It’s amazing,” Errani said.
Townsend and Young, who have been friends since childhood, were given a wild card entry into the event for Young’s last tournament. The 35-year-old Young, who hadn’t played much recently after switching to pickleball, reflected on his final match.
“Obviously wasn’t the result we wanted,” Young said, “but I can’t think of a better spot, place to go out in, having watched that as a kid, and playing with someone I’ve known our whole life. It’s pretty cool for me.”
Young and Townsend advanced through the tournament, defeating defending champions Anna Danilina and Harri Heliovarra in the quarterfinals.
However, Errani and Vavassori, the No. 3 seeds, excelled in the tiebreaker and secured their victory by breaking Townsend’s serve.
Errani had not competed in a mixed doubles event for eight years before teaming up with Vavassori at Wimbledon. They were eliminated in the first round there but reached the quarterfinals at the Olympics before arriving in New York.
Young’s parents had coached Townsend, who lost in the women’s doubles semifinals with Katerina Siniakova after their Wimbledon win.
