After Taylor Townsend and her doubles partner Katerina Siniakova eliminated Venus Williams and her teammate Leylah Fernandez in the women’s doubles quarter-finals on Tuesday night, Townsend expressed her gratitude to Williams for inspiring her journey into tennis.
During her post-match interview at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the 29-year-old shared her memories of getting to know the sport. “I remember watching her on TV, especially during the US Open. I loved her Reebok outfit; it really captured my interest in tennis,” Townsend recalled, mentioning how she and her sister were inspired by watching Venus and Serena. “I wanted to be like them when I grew up.”
“It’s a privilege to share the court with her,” she added.
Townsend and Siniakova, the top-ranked duo, dominated the match, swiftly defeating the legendary pair of Williams and Fernandez with a score of 6-1, 6-2.
After the match, both Townsend and Siniakova received applause from the New York crowd, waving and cheering for Williams as she made her exit from the court.
This match marked the end of a significant chapter as it was Williams’ 25th appearance at the US Open since she first competed there at just 17 years old in 1997.
At 45, Williams has left a mark in tennis that transcends the sport itself, merging athletics and fashion in a unique way.
“I believe what you wear reflects who you are, and it allows you to express yourself on the court,” she stated.
While Williams has influenced pop culture for years, she noted that the crossover to tennis has been a slow process at times.
Interestingly, Will Smith, who starred in that series for six seasons in the ’90s, portrayed Williams’ father in the 2021 film “King Richard.”
