Taylor Townsend has enjoyed an impressive campaign at the US Open, which ultimately came to an end after her defeat to Barbora Krejcikova.
Townsend, who was bidding to advance to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam in singles for the first time, was a set to the good against the former Wimbledon champion.
After failing to capitalise on eight match points in the second set, however, the momentum swung away from her, and Krejcikova came out on top.
Despite the defeat, the American still recorded her joint-best singles run at a major, which featured statement wins over seeded stars; the biggest of which was Townsend’s victory over Mirra Andreeva.
The 29-year-old was asked after exiting the tournament if she would now consider a shift in focus away from doubles when competing at events.
Taylor Townsend speaks about her future in singles after US Open exit
Townsend responded in her press conference: “I don’t think that it requires to move the focus just because they both do different things for me in my game.
“Everyone is different. There are some people who physically can’t really maintain that load for weeks in and weeks out. For me, I’m actually better the more that I play, the better that I do and the better that I get.
“So, for me, I don’t really think that it’s a shift of focus because each thing does a different thing for my game, and it makes me a more well-rounded player, and it also allows me to be able to stay competitive.
“That’s what it’s really about. We play a lot of weeks, but there are some weeks that you go far and there are some weeks that you do not.
“I know and I understand this about myself, I’m the kind of player that needs the matches and the reps, and doubles helps me with that.
“So, no, I don’t think I need to shift my focus. If anything, I can say that it’s helped me, and there have been a lot more singles players playing doubles, so I don’t really think that it’s getting in the way of anything.”
Taylor Townsend’s busy schedule at this year’s US Open
Townsend has competed in three different tournaments at Flushing Meadows this year, featuring in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
In the revamped mixed doubles competition, she played alongside compatriot Ben Shelton, with whom she reached the quarterfinals.
Partnered with Katerina Siniakova, Townsend remains in the doubles draw and will face off against the team of Yue Yuan and Camila Osorio in the next round.
Her singles run was her best in New York since 2019, with the US star agonisingly close to finally reaching the last eight at a major.
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