Taylor Townsend opened her US Open singles campaign with a composed 6-2, 6-3 victory over Maja Chwalinska on Monday, riding a loud Grandstand crowd into the second round in New York.
Townsend feeds off home support in US Open opener
Quick facts
- Townsend defeated Chwalinska 6-2, 6-3 in the first round.
- The American will meet Australian Taylah Preston on Wednesday.
- Townsend is ranked No. 2 in doubles and is the top doubles seed alongside Katerina Siniakova.
- The pair have qualified for the WTA Finals and were US Open runners-up last season.
- A US Open doubles crown would complete Townsend’s career doubles Grand Slam.
Townsend, who has twice reached the US Open fourth round, again showed why the hard courts of Flushing Meadows suit her game. Her 2019 run came through qualifying, while last year she beat fifth seed Mirra Andreeva before losing a tight three-set match to Barbora Krejcikova.
Against Chwalinska, the French Open finalist, Townsend seized control early and carried a 4-2 advantage in the second set. Chwalinska fought through four deuces and saved three break points to hold for 4-3, briefly raising the pressure.
The response was immediate. With chants of support rolling around the Grandstand, Townsend won the following eight points to close out the match and secure her place in the next round.
Townsend said the US Open has become a particularly comfortable setting for American players, citing improved access to practice courts and scheduling support. She felt her preparation, both on court and during the fan events surrounding the tournament, had put her in position for a strong opening performance.
Off court, Townsend’s New York week has included TT’s House, her Brooklyn pop-up celebrating tennis and fashion, as well as her third consecutive US Open welcome party. The event also marked the release of new merchandise from her brand.
She is wearing a custom tournament collection created with celebrity stylist J. Bolin. Townsend said the project moved from concept to completion in roughly three weeks, with three fittings held last week to ensure the kit would perform properly under match conditions.
Townsend and Bolin prepared five different looks for the fortnight, with the American intending to unveil a new outfit in each round she reaches.
Her schedule has already included mixed doubles alongside ATP World No. 2 Alexander Zverev. They were beaten in straight sets by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, but Townsend valued the chance to share a court again with Zverev, whom she has known since childhood.
The doubles draw now brings another major objective. Townsend and Siniakova enter as the No. 1 seeds after reaching last year’s final, and Townsend believes she is equipped to handle the demands of competing in singles and doubles at the same event.
“I’m made for it,” Townsend said of the double workload, adding that she relishes the challenge of repeated competition and difficult assignments.
Her next singles test comes Wednesday against Preston, with the American seeking to build another deep home-Slam run.
SEO Title: Taylor Townsend beats Maja Chwalinska to reach US Open second round
SEO Description: Taylor Townsend defeated Maja Chwalinska 6-2, 6-3 at the US Open and will face Taylah Preston in the second round as she also leads the doubles draw with Katerina Siniakova.
