00:00C'est parti !
00:30In 2019, I felt like I was, like, climbing and I was trying to get over the hump.
00:38And there were, like, so many opportunities where it was, like, I almost got there and didn't get it.
00:43Almost got there and didn't get it.
00:44And I felt like that match when I played Halop was a turning point for me where I got over that hump of, like, finally just I got one.
00:56You know what I'm saying?
00:56Like, I just felt like it kind of helped validate me as a player, and then I was able to continue.
01:01And then I ended up losing to Bianca in three sets, and she ended up winning the tournament.
01:07This time it just feels completely different.
01:08I wasn't searching for anything.
01:11I wasn't looking, trying to find answers.
01:13I had all the answers in here.
01:15And I was so confident and so sure of myself and what I was doing and how I was executing that it didn't matter.
01:24If I hit the back fence, the bottom of the net, it didn't matter.
01:27I just kept going.
01:30And so it just felt completely different.
01:33I'm a totally different person than I was in 2019.
01:36And I think that that showed.
01:39And that's what's really cool about tennis in these moments is, like, you're able to reflect and kind of look even at the mannerisms and how I carry myself then and now.
01:47You'll be able to see that it's a different woman.
01:49Ava.
01:49Congratulations, Taylor.
01:51Thanks.
01:51I know you've played on Ash plenty of times before, but does walking out on that stadium for a primetime match mean anything extra to you, given your history with the U.S. Open and the USTA and all of that?
02:03Yeah, I love being able to walk out on that court.
02:07It's funny because I don't think the last time I played, it was the fireworks and the smoke and all that stuff.
02:13It makes for a great photo.
02:15But, yeah, it's always very special to me.
02:19It's such a beautiful court.
02:20The atmosphere is unlike any other.
02:22Truly, it's unlike any other.
02:24And when I walked out, I wasn't nervous at all.
02:27Like, when I walked out at night, at first I had music in and I took my headphones out and I turned my phone off because I wanted to hear everything.
02:35I wanted to hear the people.
02:37I wanted to hear the noise.
02:39I wanted to hear them call my name and for me to be able to walk out through that tunnel and to see everything.
02:45And I wanted to be 100% present in that moment.
02:48And I loved it.
02:51So, I'm happy that I made that choice.
02:54But every time, you know, whether it's a third round or Grand Slam final, it's something that, you know, is unlike any other thing.
03:05It's special every time, honestly.
03:07On the back.
03:08There's something that you said about letting adversity be your footstool.
03:12When I say that to you, what are your thoughts in response?
03:16Yeah, I mean, I think that's one of the reasons why I did the Phoenix kit for myself.
03:23You know, like I said, a phoenix is a, you know, made up creature.
03:29But the premise is you having to burn or lose your old self in order to emerge as something new.
03:37And I feel like that's indicative of my career.
03:39Me as a person, me as a woman, me as a player.
03:44You know, I have, as a tennis player, you know, people have always said, oh, you're so talented.
03:48You have so many weapons.
03:49You have so many things you can do.
03:50But it was always a but.
03:51And I feel like the work that I've put in and all the things that I've been doing has eliminated that but.
03:59And so I'm emerging as a new person.
04:02And I feel like today I've leveled up and I'm really just so proud of myself.
04:07I'm so proud of the way that I showed up tonight, the way that I handled business, the way that I kept my head on.
04:12And it was funny, even my my kit prior to the U.S. Open, like the in D.C. and Cincinnati and all that, the theme was gems.
04:23And we were pulling on, you know, diamond in the rough or and with a diamond is when it's rough, you don't know what it looks like.
04:31But when it's polished, it's beautiful.
04:35And so, you know, through all the things that I've gone through, you know, it's it's only been polishing and shaping and molding.
04:41And, you know, now you guys see the nice, shiny object.
04:45But it's been a lot of hard work behind the scenes.
04:47But, you know, I'm I'm just so proud of the way that I'm that I'm showing up.
04:51I want to.
04:52Can you just try and explain what the last sort of 48 hours has been like and how hard was it just to try and focus on on the tennis and kind of shut out all the noise?
05:04It hasn't been hard at all.
05:05You know, I I said to my team, I was like, I'm made for this type of stuff.
05:08I really feel like, you know, it wasn't hard because I stood in my truth.
05:14So there was no I didn't have to defend anything that I said what I said, I said and I meant.
05:19And so, you know, for me, it was also good because I had doubles the next day.
05:25So I had to get right back on the page because at the end of the day, I will never allow any drama or anything on the outside to deter me from what my goal is when I step into the lines on the court.
05:36And when I step into those gates, nothing that's happening on the outside matters.
05:41And that's how I was raised.
05:43And and I'm really embodying that thought process.
05:45So when I got out onto the court, when I got into the practice court, when I got out onto the match court, it was about business.
05:52And it was the same tonight.
05:55You know, it's a different type of challenge, right?
05:57It's a different type of, you know, exposure and, you know, my social media and all of the, you know, people being able to have access and things to say.
06:06And I said to my team, I was like, dang, I didn't know I just need people at my phone number.
06:09You know, like so many text messages and stuff and just trying to, like, filter through those things.
06:15But I also have.
06:18I really took the time to be intentional to, like, shut it off.
06:23So when I got to the hotel and I said, OK, I'm done, I put my phone down, I put it on Do Not Disturb, I stopped in the morning, I put it, I cut it off.
06:31So when it's time to do the job, it's time to do the job.
06:34And that's what I think is a testament to being professional, being able to block out what's on the outside.
06:40And when you step in the line, do you handle business?
06:42I have time for two more.
06:43Willie.
06:44Taylor, you've spoken about your focus just now.
06:47But what about the confidence that you exude and that you've described?
06:53To what do you attribute that confidence?
06:57I attribute it to experience and doing the work.
07:00I've been working on myself and I think that, you know, anyone in the media could see that, like, you know, over the years and over the time that I've become a new person.
07:12As I continue to talk to you guys, you know, there are things that I found out or realized about myself or and I'm very vocal about that.
07:18So, you know, I've just been doing the self-work and I realized that a lot of this stuff had nothing to do with hitting a tennis ball.
07:25It was all between the ears and, you know, tennis is 85, 90 percent mental.
07:31And so for me, I accepted that that was my downfall and that was my flaw.
07:36And, you know, I decided to dive into that and it's been uncomfortable.
07:42It hasn't been easy, but I'm doing the work.
07:45And I'm saying doing because it's an ongoing thing.
07:48Like, it's not a thing where you do it and it's like, OK, cool, check.
07:51It's a it's an ongoing process, even out on the court having to adjust.
07:57Oh, I hit that to the back fence. All right.
08:00That was embarrassing. All right. Next point.
08:02You know, like really having to keep a short memory.
08:04So, you know, for me, the confidence is I'm glad that you guys see it, but it's something that is pure and it's something that is just me.
08:12I'm just here. I'm on full display. I'm not hiding. I'm not scared to show my true colors.
08:17I'm not scared to open up my vest and show you guys vulnerability or, you know, how I'm feeling or anything like that.
08:24But, you know, I think that as I've matured and I've understood myself more, I'm able to keep those things in check and I'm able to continue to just take care of business.
08:33And when it's time to be out on the court and it's time to do the things, I'm just focusing on those things.
08:37Ben, last question.
08:38I know you've blocked some things out, but I'm sure you've seen just the volume of support you've gotten.
08:45I think your Instagram followers have roughly doubled.
08:47I think you've gotten more followers than any other player during this U.S. Open men or women's side.
08:51I mean, we've known you for a long time and know that you, like you said, you're staying who you are.
08:55But a lot of people are seeing you or encountering you for the first time and liking what they're seeing and resonating with you.
09:00So I'm curious just how gratifying that is to be having this moment, to be getting on Ash,
09:06probably more for you than for the number five player in the world, honestly, across the net.
09:09Like, how did that feel just to be having this moment and having people see you and want to support what it is you're standing for?
09:17Well, that's a really interesting question.
09:18I never thought about it that way, but you're very right.
09:20Like, this is some people's first time interacting and, like, finding out who Taylor Townsend is, right?
09:27It's a lot of familiar faces in here, but, you know, there are a lot of people who may not have had any idea who I was.
09:33And so that's a great point.
09:35You know, people being able to see me now, but then being able to go back and go back into history or my history and follow my journey and figure out how has she gotten here?
09:50You know, I think that that's super cool and that's one of the things that people are resonating with.
09:54But, you know, it's been amazing.
09:57You know, even before all this stuff happened, prior to the tournament starting, I did my pop-up shop and I hosted a couple of events during fan week after the mixed doubles.
10:07And I just said, I was like, you know, it's not often that you get a chance to be up close and personal with people that have been following you since you were a junior.
10:14And I just have gotten so much love and support on, like, a personal level from fans and just people who are really supporting and rocking with me.
10:21And I took that and I'm just like, wow, like, this is amazing.
10:25And so, you know, it can be a lot at times.
10:28But the great thing is a lot of this stuff has been happening, like, on social media.
10:32So it is a kind of a distance away from it as well.
10:37But I'm embracing it.
10:39I'm embracing it.
10:39I'm enjoying it.
10:40And like I said, it's cool because I'm just showing up as myself so I don't have to be anything else but me.
10:45And, you know, if you like it, you like it.
10:47If you don't, you don't, whatever.
10:48But, you know, I think that that's the cool thing because I'm just truly showing up as myself.
10:54And I think people see that.
10:55And it's cool that they like what they see.
10:56I think I'm pretty cool.
10:57I think I'm funny.
10:59So I think that's all that matters.
11:02So, yeah, I mean, it's cool.
11:04But I'm enjoying the journey.
11:06I'm enjoying the ride.
11:07And, you know, it's not over yet.
11:09I've got doubles tomorrow.
11:10So I'll see you guys tomorrow.
11:12I'll see you guys tomorrow.
