Taylor Townsend has been enjoying herself on the singles court in recent times, but she has made her name in tennis through doubles.
She has also competed in mixed doubles throughout her impressive career, perhaps most notably at the 2025 US Open.
Townsend linked up with fellow American Ben Shelton in New York, but the wildcards lost their second match of the tournament.
Intriguingly, the WTA doubles number two has now made a bold claim about her ATP counterparts concerning the format.
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Taylor Townsend says it’s ‘shocking’ how men often return women’s serves in mixed doubles
Allowed to speak freely on Tennis Channel’s Confessional Cart, the WTA ace was asked for a hill she’s willing to die on.
“I’m not willing to die for nothing like that,” she started.
“But the men have a hard time returning the women’s serves in mixed doubles, and it’s really shocking how many times that they can’t return it.
“Tons of unreturnables in mixed doubles, I’m just gonna say that.”
The newly revamped 2025 US Open mixed doubles tournament caused plenty of controversy, largely given the inclusion of singles stars.
In the end, however, mixed doubles specialists Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani successfully defended their title.
The year before, the Italian pairing defeated Townsend and Donald Young in the final, having also beaten her and Evan King in the 2025 French Open mixed doubles final.
| Result | Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 2024 | US Open | Donald Young | Sara Errani, Andrea Vavassori | 6–7(0–7), 5–7 |
| Loss | 2025 | French Open | Evan King | Sara Errani, Andrea Vavassori | 4–6, 2–6 |
Taylor Townsend praises fighter Jessica Pegula
Townsend was asked various other questions throughout the interview, including who she thinks is quietly the most intense competitor.
Picking out a fellow American WTA star, she said: “Hmm, that’s a good one.
“I think Jess Pegula.
“She fights hard, she always plays hard, never really goes away.”
Such an admirable approach has helped Pegula reach the quarterfinals of the Italian Open, where she takes on Iga Swiatek.
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Pegula is also in the doubles quarterfinals alongside Storm Hunter, while Townsend is competing alongside Katerina Siniakova.
The second seeds just received a walkover against Sorana Cirstea and Jaqueline Cristian in the round of 16, while Pegula and Hunter play against Tereza Valentova and Linda Noskova.
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