“I have a second career” – Taylor Townsend talks about how motherhood became a turning point in her professional life

There is a perception in the tennis community that WTA stars experience a drop in performance after pregnancy. While this may be true in some cases, Taylor Townsend defies all expectations. The last few years have been quite productive for her in her doubles career. She is about to knock on the door of success at Wimbledon and the WTA pro player revealed the reason for her increasing confidence on the court.

Taylor Townsend’s tennis career reached new heights as she and partner Katerina Siniakova secured a place in the women’s doubles final of Wimbledon 2024. They pulled off a remarkable victory over top seeds Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens to reach Townsend’s first final at the grass-court major. Although it was her third Grand Slam final after the birth of her baby son, she revealed the aspects that help her dominate.

In a recent interview with the Tennis Channel, Townsend talked about how motherhood has affected her game. “Since I came back after having my son, I feel like I’m new. I have a second career. I just have a new approach and I’m having so much fun. Every time I step on the court, I feel super comfortable. It always helps to have someone who is an eight-time Grand Slam champion and can step up in the big moments; that really makes a difference.” She said.

Taylor Townsend made the world aware of her pregnancy in October 2020 and welcomed her son, Adyn Aubrey Johnson, on March 14, 2021. After a long period of recovering her strength, she made a comeback to tennis in April 2022 and from that moment on, her performance curve went uphill. She reached the finals of the 2022 US Open and the 2023 French Open and made it to the semifinals of the 2023 US Open in mixed doubles.

Despite her success, the American misses her son when she is not with him. During the Madrid Open, the WTA star shared an update expressing her feelings and immense love for the toddler. “I’m missing my baby’s first day of Jiu-Jitsu. I’m crying real tears! It really breaks my heart that I can’t be there.” Townsend wrote.

Taylor Townsend is now looking forward to a thrilling battle in the finale. Her son is a source of motivation and it is obvious that she has the upper hand emotionally and psychologically. While her love for Adyn was widely acknowledged on social media, fans also got a practical insight into their love.

When Taylor Townsend hugged her son after the victory in Miami

Taylor Townsend rarely takes her son to events that are far from their hometown. While she had the opportunity to be graced with Adyn’s presence at the Miami Open, she decided to get him a seat in the stands so he could also watch his mother dominate the court. Spectators already knew the little one was present in the arena, but they had no idea he would be the center of the show.

Shortly after defeating her rival Lucia Bronzetti, the American quickly found her way to the stands. She waved to the crowd, picked up her son and gave him a warm hug to celebrate the remarkable victory.

Although her appearance at the Miami Open was short-lived, the incident still set new trends and showcased the bond between mother and son. As she now looks forward to one of the most important matches of her career, it is very likely that her son will join in the celebrations.