Taylor Townsend reveals how Venus Williams drew…
After Taylor Townsend and her doubles accomplice, Kateřina Siniaková, knocked Venus Williams out of the ladies’s doubles draw on Tuesday evening, the American star credited Williams for getting her into the game in the first place.
The 29-year-old told ESPN on the court at Louis Armstrong Stadium after her win over Williams and her doubles accomplice, Leylah Fernandez, that she had grown up watching the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
“The earliest memories [of Williams] obviously watching on TV, especially here at the U.S. Open. I remember I loved her back out, Reebok dress, that’s what drew me to tennis,” Townsend said. “It was the lovable outfits, it wasn’t the tennis, it was the lovable outfits. Growing up watching Venus and Serena had always been, for me and my sister, it was an inspiration and we actually needed to be like them when we grew up.
“It’s an honor to be able to share the court with her today.”
Townsend and Siniaková, the top-ranked workforce, made comparatively fast work of Williams and Fernandez during their quarterfinals match, taking down the tennis legend and her 22-year-old accomplice, 6-1, 6-2.
Taylor Townsend of the United States and Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic in motion against Venus Williams of the United States and Leylah Fernandez of Canada in the quarterfinal of the ladies’s doubles at the US Open. Mike Frey-Imagn Images
Both Townsend and Siniaková joined the New York crowd in giving Williams a loud ovation after the match, pausing and turning toward Williams after shaking fingers with the chair ump to applaud her before she walked off the court.
The loss in the doubles event marked the end of Williams’ twenty fifth profession U.S. Open, with her first coming back in 1997 when she was 17 years previous.
The 45-year-old Williams’ influence on tennis has stretched past just the court, with her outfits mixing sports activities and fashion.
Venus Williams of the United States and Leylah Fernandez of Canada in motion against Taylor Townsend of the United States and Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic in the quarterfinal of the ladies’s doubles at the US Open. Mike Frey-Imagn Images
“For me, it’s just about what you wear is just a reflection of who you are and being able to express myself on the court,” Williams said.
While Williams has impacted popular culture over the years, sometimes, popular culture has been slow to attain the tennis icon.
Williams told reporters Tuesday that she wasn’t allowed to watch “The Fresh Prince” until she was 20 because her “dad only let us watch educational programs growing up.”
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) (L) and accomplice Taylor Townsend (USA) (R) wave to the group after their match against Leylah Fernandez (CAN) and accomplice Venus Williams (USA). IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
Fittingly enough, Will Smith, who starred in the hit TV show for six seasons in the Nineteen Nineties, performed Williams’ father in the 2021 film “King Richard,” which chronicled Venus and Serena Williams’ rise after teaching by their father.
“Will Smith is a legend. The fact that he did such an honor to play my dad, and he took it — you can’t understand how seriously he took it,” Williams said. “He really put his whole life into it, and he got rewarded for it, too. In turn, we all got rewarded for it. I have so much respect for him.”
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