“I look at my face and thank my skin care routine” - Taylor Townsend on reaching 'dream' US Open final with Donald Young 13 years after debut
Taylor Townsend and Donald Young are through to the mixed doubles final of the US Open 2024, and after their semifinal win, they took some time to reflect on what this achievement meant to them. The duo made their debut at the competition in 2011, and despite multiple impressive runs, this marks the first time they've made it to the finals.
Townsend and Young were gifted a wildcard entry into the event and the pair put up scintillating performances on their way to the final, taking down Asia Mohammed/Andre Molteni in the first round, before outdoing Nadiia Kichenok/Hugo Nys and Anna Danilina/Harri Heliovaara in the round of 16 and quarterfinals respectively.
The Americans then defeated eight seeds Rohan Bopanna and Aldila Sutjiadi in their semifinal to seal a berth in their first-ever US Open finals as a pair. Reflecting on their long journey in an on-court interview after the match, Taylor Townsend joked that she was most grateful for her skincare routine, saying,
“Honestly, I just look at my face and thank my skin care routine.”
She then went on to add that in the fast moving world of tennis, time flew by, and hilariously called out interviewer Blair Henley for making her feel old.
“But, I mean, yeah, in the tennis world and in this life, time flies by. I mean, the fact that we're already almost in middle September is crazy. This season is so long and it's so demanding, and you know you spend a lot of time with your team and away from your family and your friends, so it flies by. Sometimes you don't really think about those things unless someone like you tells us, so thank you for making me feel old," Townsend said.
Taylor Townsend and Donald Young to face Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori in US Open finals
Taylor Townsend and Donald Young were absolutely phenomenal in their mixed doubles semifinals against India's Rohan Bopanna and Indonesia’s Aldila Sutjiadi. The two Americans beat the eight seeds 6-3, 6-4 in a dominant fashion, keeping the audiences of the Louis Armstrong Stadium hooked.
The duo will now take on Italian third seeds Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori at the US Open finals as Young bids to end his career on a high. Errani and Vavassori have put up consistent performances throughout the competition, and pose a strong threat to Taylor Townsend and Donald Young’s title hopes.
The US Open mixed doubles final is Errani's second title clash at a Grand Slam this year, having previously lost the French Open women's doubles final where Jasmine Paolini was her partner. The duo later went on to win the Olympic gold in Paris.
The US Open mixed doubles is scheduled to take place at the Arthur Ashe stadium on Thursday, September 5