Taylor Townsend expressed her immediate reaction after defeating Venus Williams in the Washington Open doubles. Townsend, teaming up with Zhang Shuai, faced a challenging match but ultimately triumphed, pushing the contest into a nail-biting tiebreak, which they won. Despite the loss, Williams showcased her resilience and competitive spirit.
After the match, Townsend took a moment to thank the enthusiastic crowd, stating, “This is the best crowd that I’ve seen for singles or doubles, so thank you guys for supporting us.” She also praised Williams, recognizing her legendary status and skill. Townsend noted, “She’s a champion… still hits the ball so clean. She came up with some really great shots, and it came down to the wire, so we’re glad to get through it.”
This significant match added to Williams’ impressive comeback narrative at the Washington Open, where she has already made headlines by winning in both singles and doubles after a lengthy hiatus from the sport. Her victory against Peyton Stearns reaffirmed her place in tennis history as the second-oldest woman to win a WTA match, only trailing Martina Navratilova.
As speculation arises about Williams receiving a wild card for the US Open, the tennis world remains hopeful for her continued success in the sport, as she prepares to potentially face top players like Naomi Osaka or Emma Raducanu in her next singles match.