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Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How Wimbledon Tennis Champ Taylor Townsend Balances Motherhood and Ambition
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Taylor Townsend was rallying with the rhythm of tennis before she was even born—as her mother played on court while pregnant with her. Twenty-four years later, Townsend had that same experience, playing professionally while pregnant with her baby boy. The symmetry serves as a reflection of how deeply tennis and motherhood are entwined in the arc of her life, shaping her identity and fueling her game. The sport is essentially "in my DNA," Townsend told Newsweek between her French Open matches in May, which marked her first time back on Roland-Garros' famous red clay since 2023. Taylor Townsend of the United States returns a shot against Qinwen Zheng of China during their match on day 5 at Hard Rock Stadium on March 22, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Taylor Townsend of the United States returns a shot against Qinwen Zheng of China during their match on day 5 at Hard Rock Stadium on March 22, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Rich Storry/Getty The 29-year-old, Chicago-born tennis champion has climbed through professional rankings over the past decade-and-a-half, but not without a few hurdles, including injuries, motherhood and losses. In doubles, she has played in a final in all four major championships, most recently taking the Australian Open in January, and Wimbledon last year, rising to become the No. 2 ranked female doubles player in the world, behind her partner, Katerina Siniakova. Excited to defend their Wimbledon title in this year's competition, Townsend said she is going to walk out at the All England Club with confidence from last year. "I play well on these courts," she said. Her coach, John Williams, reminded Townsend that success comes from her own abilities, not chance. "The only thing that that has a significant impact [on] is the degree of self-belief and self-actualization," he told Newsweek. " So knowing that you were capable of doing it once, it didn't happen by luck, it happened by skill and execution of your process. Just remember that." Icons and Impact Townsend first picked up a racket at the age of 4, often hitting with her older sister, Symone. While she felt connected to the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, she didn't feel that they reflected her play as much as other tennis icons. Townsend grew up admiring the play of Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin, and Donald Young Jr., whose parents, Donald Sr. and Illona, were her first tennis coaches. At the time, Young Jr. was ranked No. 1 junior player in the world, and Townsend described her early training years as "unique," given that she was so close to someone "who was actually doing what I dreamt of doing." Her deepest admiration went to Czech-American player Martina Navratilova, who was ranked as the world's No. 1 women's singles player for over 6 years, and No. 1 women's doubles player for four-and-a-half years. "I love the way she carries herself on the court," Townsend said, noting that she found many similarities in herself. She described the tennis legend as "a little bit rough around [the]edges," which Townsend identifies with too. "She's lefty, that's me. And then she played in glasses, and I did too because I couldn't see for the longest time," she said. Townsend had turned professional at age 16 and, over a decade later, she told Newsweek she wants "to create a in tennis, everything is so results-driven. I want it to be something outside of just you doing well and being a good tennis player." "I love being out here and helping [younger players]," she added, a sentiment that's now driving her latest endeavor. Townsend is creating a nonprofit aimed at building camps and training spaces where young tennis players can be exposed to the sport and deepen their skills. She wants to "be able to give back and give information however I can, because I feel like that's the most powerful thing—information, exposure and representation for you to be able to see that it's possible for you to be able to have access to the thing. Then have the information that you can apply." Taylor Townsend and Evan King of United States greet Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori of Italy at the net after their defeat in the Mixed Doubles Final at Roland Garros on June 05, 2025 in... Taylor Townsend and Evan King of United States greet Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori of Italy at the net after their defeat in the Mixed Doubles Final at Roland Garros on June 05, 2025 in Paris, France. More Adam Pretty/Getty Getting Over 'Mom Guilt' At 24 years old, Townsend became pregnant and "had a huge perspective shift," she said, describing it as "more internal, like me as a person, everything shifting around." In March 2021, Townsend gave birth to a son, Adyn Aubrey Johnson, who is now 4 years old. She noted the drastic shift in her life and game as going from "tennis being my life to now something else being my life and bigger than that." Prior to that change, she said the sport had "literally been my entire world for my whole life." Being pregnant and the subsequent post-birth recovery period was the first time that something had really "taken me out of the sport" for more than just a couple days or weeks, she said. Tennis, from travel to training to match play, consumed most of Townsend's physical and mental energy up until Adyn came along. Townsend told Newsweek her "identity was wrapped into this world," being evaluated on wins and losses, but the break away allowed her to "become my own person," and a mother. "I feel like I'm much stronger now after having him than I was before," the tennis star said, later noting, "I think that's because I changed and evolved as a person." The transition required a lot of acceptance, recognizing that she would be out of the sport for a bit, as well as a shift in prioritization. Townsend described feeling "mom guilt" both when she was away traveling for play and while at home, "because I felt like I had no time." She added: "I had to train, I had to gym, I had to do all these things and I have someone that was watching him, but I'm here, so how am I here? But I still don't feel like I'm spending time with [him]." That realization led her to shift from "quantity of time to quality time" with her child. Her son, who she calls AJ, understands that she has to stay away frequently for her career, often telling her before she goes: "Just make sure you bring the trophy." Before leaving for Wimbledon last year, Townsend told him that they were going to have a "trophy party" and, after winning, she stuck to her word. She invited friends and family to celebrate the victory, with AJ staying up until the early hours of the morning. "It's a core memory in his mind," she said. "So he wants one every time." The party is more than just a celebration, Townsend said, adding: "It was a way for me to acknowledge my accomplishment because my tendency in the past has always been, like, just you do it and you move on." It was a way of "stopping, pausing and really, like, marinating in the moment with the people that I loved and care about." Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend L pose with the trophies during the awarding ceremony after the women's doubles final match between Katerina Siniakova Czech Republic/Taylor Townsend the United States and Gabriela Dabrowski Canada/Erin Routliffe New Zealand at... Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend L pose with the trophies during the awarding ceremony after the women's doubles final match between Katerina Siniakova Czech Republic/Taylor Townsend the United States and Gabriela Dabrowski Canada/Erin Routliffe New Zealand at Wimbledon tennis Championship in London, Britain, on July 13, 2024. More Han Yan/Xinhua via Getty Connecting the Dots Tennis, possibly more so than some other sports, is a largely mental game. Her coach Williams, who has been with her over a decade, emphasizes the importance of "clarity," finding that "confidence is a concept, clarity is a reality." He gave the example of blindfolding someone—regardless of how good their vision is, they lose clarity and can't see. "Sometimes what's right in front of us has nothing to do with our ability to see it," Williams said, adding, "It's how clearly we can discern the differences between the things." He noted that this premise of focusing on clarity applies across situations, from injuries to parenting, telling Newsweek: "When you're faced with one challenge—whether it's a challenge on the court or a challenge dealing with your child's belligerent behavior—it doesn't matter. It's a challenge." In either case, he said, the key is learning how to assess and navigate it with intention and the proper tools. Townsend said her coach and larger team help her get through difficult losses and injuries, noting that as a "very cerebral person" it's easy for her to "get into my head." Her coach often reminds her that she's been in these difficult match situations before, helping her pause, take a breath and execute on experience. Emphasizing the importance of the mental game in tennis, Williams said: "Probably 85 percent of what we do is mental, psychological, intentional," which includes analyzing and working on your psychological state after playing a touch point. The other 15 percent is more technical, ball rally and skills training. "My favorite part of coaching Taylor is seeing her connect the dots and put it together," Williams said, describing it as the moment when "that ray of sunshine peaks through the clouds." "This is one of those sports where you have to look for even the smallest ray of sunshine and celebrate that, because there are always clouds looming," he said.
Daily Maverick
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Alcaraz saves three match points to stop Sinner and retain French Open crown
The 22-year-old showed his steely determination to win the epic in five hours and 29 minutes — the longest final at Roland Garros. Carlos Alcaraz battled from the brink to outlast top seed Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) in a French Open final for the ages on Sunday to retain his crown and cement his status as the Prince of Clay in Roland-Garros' post-Rafa Nadal era. In a scintillating showdown between the torchbearers of a new generation, the 22-year-old Alcaraz saved three match points in the fourth set to continue his dominance over Sinner with his fifth straight victory over the Italian. 'I want to start with Jannik. It is amazing the level you have,' said Alcaraz, only the second man in the professional era to win all of his first five Grand Slam singles finals after Roger Federer. 'Congratulations for an amazing two weeks. I'm pretty sure you're going to be champion not once, but many times. It's a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you. 'I'm just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament and in other tournaments.' The duo, who have captured seven out of the last eight Grand Slams to stamp their authority on the men's tour, were locked in a fierce battle full of dramatic momentum shifts in the first major final between two men born in the 2000s. Alcaraz showed his steely determination to win the epic in five hours and 29 minutes — the longest final at Roland Garros — soaking up the ovation from a thoroughly entertained Parisian crowd long used to Nadal's reign during his run of 14 titles. Tense start Sinner held serve in a tense five-deuce opening game lasting 12 minutes, but was broken when he fired a forehand wide, before hitting back from 2-3 and going on to snatch an intense first set following an unforced error by Alcaraz. Relentless pressure from the baseline allowed Sinner to go a break up early in the second set, and the top seed began to apply the squeeze on Alcaraz, who was on the ropes, trailing 1-4 on a sunbathed Court Philippe Chatrier. An aggressive Alcaraz came out fighting and drew loud cheers when he drew level after 10 games and then forced a tiebreak, but Sinner edged ahead with a blistering forehand winner and doubled his lead after the clock ticked past two hours. Alcaraz, who had never come back from two sets down, battled hard in the hope of avoiding his first loss in a major final and pulled a set back before saving three match points at 3-5 down in the fourth set, later restoring parity via the tiebreak. He traded breaks in the decider but prevailed in the super tiebreak to win the longest Paris men's final since tennis went professional in 1968, while Sinner had to digest a missed chance to add to his US and Australian Open wins after a doping case. Alcaraz fell to the ground before Sinner went over to his side of the court to congratulate him, and the Spaniard then ran to the stands to hug his team and celebrate. Sinner had a contemplative look, sitting on his bench, and was gracious in defeat. 'Carlos, congratulations on an amazing performance and an amazing battle. I'm happy for you. You deserve it,' he said. 'We tried our best today, we gave everything … an amazing tournament, even though it is very difficult right now. It is a big privilege for me to play here… I won't sleep very well tonight, but it is okay.' Five Slams Alcaraz has now won his five Grand Slam finals and handed Sinner his first defeat in a major final after the Italian claimed his first three at the Australian Open (2024 and 2025) and US Open (2024). Alcaraz thanked the crowd for their support, which he said helped him throughout the tournament. 'Then, Paris, guys, I mean, you have been a really important support to me since the first practice, since the first round,' he said. 'You were unbelievable. You were insane for me. I mean, I just can't, can't thank enough, you know, to you for the great support during the whole week, for today's match. 'For today's match, you were really, really important. You are in my heart, and you'll always be in my heart. So, thank you. Thank you very much, Paris. And see you next year.' Sinner was gracious in defeat. 'First of all, Carlos, congrats. An amazing performance, amazing battle, amazing job. I am very happy for you, you deserve it. It's easier to play than talking now,' said the 23-year-old Sinner, who was on a 20-match winning streak in the majors. The two finalists, who have won seven of the last eight Grand Slams to stamp their authority on the tour, were locked in a fierce battle that mesmerised the 15,000 crowd. 'To my team, thank you so much for putting me in this position. We tried our best today. We gave everything we had. Some time ago, we would've signed to be here. Still an amazing tournament, even though it's very, very difficult right now,' said Sinner. DM
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carlos Alcaraz is Turning Heads After French Open Announcement
Carlos Alcaraz is Turning Heads After French Open Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's a reason Carlos Alcaraz is gaining popularity as the "Prince of Clay" — a nickname widely seen as a sign that he's following the "King of Clay," Rafael Nadal, as the next Spanish conqueror of the tennis clay surface. Advertisement On Sunday, Alcaraz beat American star Ben Shelton in a thrilling four-set affair, 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. It wasn't an easy match for the No. 2 seed, who had a hard time countering Shelton's precise shots and cross-court returns. In fact, during the second set, Shelton delivered a strong return that Alcaraz appeared to send back and got a point for. However, the World No. 2 approached the umpire and admitted that he wasn't holding his racket when it made contact with the ball — which is not allowed. Shelton was awarded the point, while Alcaraz earned the respect of the Roland-Garros crowd for his class and sportsmanship. Still, it further highlighted how Shelton made things difficult for Alcaraz with his hard-to-reach shots. At the end of the day, though, Alcaraz fended off Shelton and booked a ticket to the French Open quarterfinal. Advertisement Furthermore, according to Roland-Garros, the win marked Alcaraz's 100th victory on clay surface, sparking excitement among fans. "New clay-level unlocked," Roland-Garros' Instagram wrote, along with an edited photo of Alcaraz while showing his milestone mark. "Carlitos the prince of clay," a commenter wrote. Another one said, "A giant of talent, athleticism, and sportsmanship. An example of what a real champion is." "Scary fact for the rest of the locker room: There's more to come," a fan stated. A supporter remarked, "The prince of clay! He will dominate the clay season. Hope he will be healthy all throughout years. Vamos Alcaraz." Advertisement "Great potential to build his own legacy on clay," a follower shared. A sixth poster added, "Carlos is physically fit, hardworker, and has mental perseverance, consistency, better conditioning and mobility. He's on [fire]." Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) reacts after missing a shot against David Goffin.© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The 22-year-old Alcaraz won the French Open in 2024, and he certainly looks poised to defend his Grand Slam title with the way he's playing in this year's tournament. Related: French Open Announces Historic Qinwen Zheng News on Sunday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
26-05-2025
- Sport
Rafael Nadal honored at French Open following retirement
Tennis legend and Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal was honored at the French Open over the weekend after retiring from the sport last year following a decadeslong career. Nadal, who earned 14 French Open titles over the years, starting with his tournament debut in 2005 at the age of 19, was commemorated at a farewell ceremony in Paris on Sunday, taking to Roland-Garros' famed Court Philippe-Chatrier in a dark suit and matching shirt to a standing ovation. He was joined on the court by longtime competitors and friends Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, whom he thanked for their "amazing rivalries" and respect, despite being "tough" competition. "After all these years fighting for everything, you know, it's unbelievable how the time changed the perspective of everything ... all these nerves, pressure, strange feelings that you feel when you see each other when you are rivals, it's completely different when you finish your career," Nadal said, speaking alongside his former opponents. "I mean, at the end now, it's all about being happy about everything that we achieved. At the end, we all of us achieved our dreams." "You gave me some hard times on the court, honestly," he added, laughing. "But I really enjoyed it a lot, pushing myself to the limit every single day to compete with all of you." Nadal holds a 112-4 French Open record, and is considered one of the greatest clay court players of all time. In October, after more than two decades in the sport, which included 92 ATP-level singles titles and a Career Golden Slam -- all four major titles and an Olympic gold medal -- he announced he would be retiring the following month after the Davis Cup Finals in Málaga, Spain, his home country. "The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially," he said in a video announcement on social media at the time. "I don't think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make … and I think it is the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined." Nadal's family attended his farewell ceremony on Sunday, sitting amid a sea of rust-colored T-shirts -- identical in color to the famed Philippe-Chatrier clay -- which read, "MERCI RAFA." The tennis icon at one point brought his son Rafael Jr. down onto the court with him, holding the toddler as he waved to the cheering crowd. "At the end, tennis is just a game," he said in his speech. "Sometimes we feel a little bit more, but I think we understand that at the end of the day, it's really only a game." Speaking to his former competitors, he added, "So what that means for me, that all of you are here, is everything. That's a great message to the world too, that we can be good friends, even if we had the best rivalries ... I really hope, and I'm sure that we will continue doing positive things for our sport in the future. Without a doubt, our legacy is there, but we need to keep building things that helps tennis to keep growing, and I'm sure we will make beautiful things together." French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton and French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo unveiled a courtside plaque at the close of Sunday's ceremony, a white rectangle bearing Nadal's footprint and name, as well as the number 14 -- a tally of Nadal's French Open victories -- and an illustration of the Coupe des Mousquetaires, the trophy awarded to the annual tournament winner.
