Winning Mentality

Ahead of Wimbledon, doubles tennis champion Taylor Townsend spoke to Newsweek about motherhood, building a legacy and trophy parties

- by MANDY TAHERI

TAYLOR TOWNSEND WAS RALLYING WITH THE rhythm of tennis before she was even born—as her mother played on court while pregnant with her.

Twenty-four years later, Townsend had that same experience, playing professionally while pregnant with her baby boy.

The symmetry serves as a reflection of how deeply tennis and motherhood are entwined in the arc of her life, shaping her identity and fueling her game.

The sport is essentially “in my DNA,” Townsend told Newsweek between her French Open matches in May, which marked her first time back on Roland-Garros’ famous red clay since 2023.

The 29-year-old, Chicago-born tennis champion has climbed through professional rankings over the past decade-and-a-half, but not without a few hurdles, including injuries, motherhood and losses. In doubles, she has played in a final in all four major championships, most recently taking the Australian Open in January, and Wimbledon last year, rising to become the No. 2 ranked female doubles player in the world, behind her partner, Katerina Siniakova.

Excited to defend their Wimbledon title in this year’s competition, Townsend said she is going to walk out at the All England Club with confidence from last year.

“I play well on these courts,” she said.

Her coach, John Williams, reminded Townsend that success comes from her own abilities, not chance. “The only thing that that has a significant impact [on] is the degree of self-belief and self-actualization,” he told Newsweek. “So knowing that you were capable of doing it once, it didn’t happen by luck, it happened by skill and execution of your process. Just remember that.”

Icons and Impact

Townsend first picked up a racket at the age of 4, often hitting with her older sister, Symone. While she felt connected to the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, she didn’t feel that they reflected her play as much as other tennis icons.