You can call it a comeback, says Townsend

The American is leaning into her mum power

Taylor Townsend, 3e tour, qualifications, Roland-Garros 2023©Clément Mahoudeau / FFT
 - Chris Oddo

Some athletes embrace the lyrical stylings of American rap artist LL Cool J, but “Don’t call it a comeback” is not Taylor Townsend's current jam in Paris. One year after she initially stepped back onto the tour after giving birth to her baby boy Adyn Aubrey, 108th-ranked Townsend stresses: you can always call it a comeback. 

“I think I’m still on the comeback trail,” she told a small gathering of reporters on Friday. “I think this is a part of my story. I feel like it’s a part of who I am.”

Now with a new perspective on her career after experiencing the life-affirming moment of becoming a mother, Townsend says she wants to feed off that energy, and use it to help inspire others. 

“I don’t want to retire that story because I think that it’s incredibly powerful and I think that it inspires a lot of people,” she said. 

Townsend’s tennis has been inspiring of late, as well.

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The American committed to spending several months in Europe competing in WTA-level events and says that immersing herself in the day-to-day grind of the clay-court swing has paid dividends. 

“I think it’s more about seeing this level on a consistent basis,” she says. “You have to bring a certain level in order to beat these players.” 

Townsend has won 12 of 15 matches across all levels on clay this spring, and recorded her best ever win by ranking and first top-5 win on clay against world No.3 Jessica Pegula in Rome. 

High emotions

The experience has done wonders for her confidence.

“I feel like that’s something I struggled with in the past,” she says. “I think that just jumping in with two feet, into playing full-out on tour week-in and week-out, I think it’s been wildly helpful for me.” 

Unlike last year, when she played the singles draw under a protected ranking, the 27-year-old had to earn her way into the main draw by ploughing through three qualifying matches. 

It hasn’t always been easy to manage. Townsend admits she breaks down in tears from time to time when she misses her son, who turned two in March.

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Taylor Townsend, Roland-Garros 2023, qualifying third round © Clément Mahoudeau/FFT

The takeaway? Make the most of every moment. 

“For me I just realised that when I’m out here I have to make it count,” she said. “Am I learning, am I growing, am I getting better? If not, take your a** home.”

Raring to go 

Townsend will face 24th-seeded Anastasia Potapova in first-round action on Sunday in Paris. She took just one game from the talented 22-year-old when they met in qualifying at Adelaide earlier this year, but the American southpaw hopes that her newfound self-belief will make a difference.

“I know that I belong, I believe that I belong here and that I have the level to play against anyone - I’m looking forward to kicking off the real work here at Roland-Garros.”