Taylor Townsend reveals what Venus Williams changed mid-match against her at Washington which made things more difficult

Venus Williams is proving to be challenging for many players at this year’s Washington Open.

Williams proved many people wrong after making a winning return to the WTA Tour at the Washington Open.

After her singles victory over fellow American Peyton Stearns, Williams received messages from Naomi Osaka and Billie Jean King.

The American has also returned to the doubles court, with Williams going back on something she previously said.

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Taylor Townsend explains what Venus Williams did that made things more difficult

Williams has been partnering Hailey Baptiste in doubles at the Washington Open this year.

They made a successful start to their new partnership, with Williams and Baptiste beating Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue in the first round.

However, Williams and Baptiste’s run came to an end in the quarterfinals after being beaten by second seeds Taylor Townsend and Shuai Zhang in a tightly contested match.

Despite winning the match, Townsend admitted in her post-match press conference that she found something that Williams and Baptiste did during the match ‘a little bit harder’.

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“I think ultimately, like, we just kept plugging away,” said Townsend. “Yesterday we played such a clean match, and today different opponents, different skill set. They’re really, really great players.

“I think Venus and Hailey both made in-match adjustments that made it a little bit harder for us to do what we wanted to do, so then we had to adjust. They started hitting different type of serves, started changing their return positions. So they forced us to have to adjust within the match and not to be able to kind of keep doing the same things.

“So I think today the key was being quite fluid and being able to adjust to their adjustments, and also, like, continue to try and just play our game. I think that’s what came through in the end. We were both playing and, like, okay, I’m really close but it’s not quite there.

“Then there were some times we connected on some really great shots and they hit some really great shots. I mean, I hit the best serve of the match, match point, and then Hailey hit an amazing return off the forehand. So I was, like, okay, there’s nothing you can do about that. Yeah, I think we were just able to lock in on how we wanted to play.”

What Taylor Townsend thought about the crowd in her doubles match against Venus Williams?

Despite featuring 21-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, combined majors in both singles and doubles, the match was not on the Stadium Court at the Washington Open.

Showing that doubles is still very popular, the secondary John Harris court was packed full of supporters hoping to catch a glimpse of Williams, Baptiste, Townsend and Shuai.

When asked about the atmosphere during the match, Townsend called the crowd ‘phenomenal’ and acknowledged that Williams was a big factor as to why the crowd was so invested.

“Yeah, the crowd, I wanted to make sure to acknowledge the crowd, because it was really, really phenomenal,” said Townsend. “That’s the biggest crowd that’s been at a match, period. It was really amazing.

“For me, it was very special, like, my best friend brought her daughter. Her daughter looks up to me. I FaceTime her all the time. Hi, Taylor. This is her first tennis match. She’s four. Her and AJ have been playing all day.

“What a match, right? Her mom played at HBCU and at Hamilton and has come to this tournament and has played tennis her whole life. Now her mom is bringing her daughter who is able to watch me and Venus on the same court.

“So there is, like, a generational, like, influence that’s happening, and that’s really what I feel here at this tournament. Like I just feel there is so many turning of inspirations, two generations. Like, I really feel that here, for some reason. I believe it’s because Venus playing and, you know, all the people that she’s inspired her career all of these years, and now the next generation is coming through, you know. Being able to compete and be in the same place I think is something super special. What better place to do it than in D.C.?”

Townsend and Shuai are now into the semifinals at the Washington Open and could now play another superstar pairing of Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina.

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