As the US Open races toward its thrilling finale, excitement is at an all-time high for both fans and players alike. Among those soaking in the atmosphere are American tennis stars Taylor Townsend and Donald Young, but their bond goes beyond the courts and dates back to a time of shared challenges and triumphs. What many might not know is that Townsend’s success today is, in part, thanks to Young’s parents who helped her overcome a difficult trait. 

Townsend and Young are all set to face Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori in the mixed doubles final at the US Open. The American stars, who have been friends for over two decades, will attempt to ace past their competitors to help Young win the Grand Slam title in the last tournament of his career. But behind their shared desire, there is a story and an advice that helped Townsend win several accolades including the Wimbledon doubles title.

Townsend engaged in an interview after her semifinal victory and revealed an interesting story revolving around Young’s parents. She highlighted that while she was ambidextrous, meaning that she could do her tasks equally well with both hands, she struggled initially playing with her right hand. “I couldn’t stay upright, I kept falling. Like if I would move sideways or backwards, I’d always trip and fall.” But Young’s parents Donald Young Sr. and Ilona Young, who coached Townsend, were quick to find a solution. 

“One day his mom was like, put the racquet in your left hand. I was pissed because then I had to go down and hit with the four-year-olds, and they sucked. So I was mad because I can keep rallies, and now I keep whiffin’ the ball, I couldn’t even make contact,” Townsend said further in the interview.

For the unversed, Young’s parents ran a tennis center in Atlanta, Georgia, where Townsend received her preliminary training. While Townsend struggled initially with the change, Young’s parents continued the drill. However, they did not get acquired results, and “so from that point, we started drilling everything on the left side. And here we are,” Townsend added.

Townsend and Young have seen each other evolve through their careers. In the same interview, Young recalled playing Monopoly with the WTA star and her sister. He laughed at the memory of Townsend throwing away things when she failed to win the game. But as the two get ready to play one of the biggest matches of their careers, the only thing Townsend can wish for is winning the title for his childhood friend. 

Donald Young wishes to share the final trophy with Taylor Townsend 

The strong bond that Donald Young and Taylor Townsend share has helped them reach the heights they would have desired. The American players are in the US Open mixed doubles final a decade after they made it to the semifinals in New York for the first time. As Young prepares to hang up his racquets, he wishes to finish on a high.

Speaking in the interview after entering the mixed doubles final, Young said, “Hopefully we go one more. It’d be a really a dream come true and kind of a storybook ending for me. So either way it goes, I’m really excited and happy that I can share it with a person really close, like family.” 

While only time will tell if Townsend’s skills amalgamated with Young’s motivation help them win the title, what remains certain is a thrilling showdown in the final.