“I’ve achieved history”: Taylor Townsend fires back at critics after historic ATX Open run into first WTA singles final

Taylor Townsend had one of the biggest nights of her career in Austin. The 27-year-old American reached her first WTA singles final at the ATX Open after beating fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 7-6(6), 6-3 on Center Court. It was not just another win. It was a moment that felt personal. After the match, she looked emotional, proud, and ready to speak her truth. During her on-court interview, Taylor Townsend addressed the critics who doubted her comeback after becoming a mother.

She said, “It’s been a journey, but you know I wouldn’t change it at all because all of those no’s was just delayed gratification for it, yes.” She continued, “Since having AJ and coming back, I’ve achieved history.” Then she added a strong message: “Everyone must talk, they got to eat their words. I’m still standing, I’m still here. I am not going anywhere and it’s only just going to get better from here.”

Taylor Townsend fights past Ashlyn Krueger at ATX Open and sets up final clash with Peyton Stearns

The semifinal did not start easily for Townsend. Ashlyn Krueger came out sharp and won 12 of the first 15 points. Soon, Townsend was down 1-4. But slowly, she found her rhythm. She began hitting deeper shots and moved forward with confidence. When Krueger served for the set at 5-4, Townsend stayed calm and forced errors to level things up.

In the tiebreak, Townsend jumped ahead 5-1. She lost focus for a few points but showed courage under pressure. After saving a set point, she finished the 63-minute opener with a strong backhand down the line. In the second set, she mixed spins and used smart net play. She broke for 4-3, held her serve, and closed the match in one hour and 49 minutes with a joyful leap.

Her day did not end there. Townsend also reached the doubles final with Storm Hunter. The top seeds defeated Cathy McNally and Kimberly Birrell 7-5, 6-4. Later, she shared that it had been an emotional morning because her son, Adyn Aubrey, had to fly home before the semifinal. “Today was actually a really, really tough day for me,” she said. “There was a lot of waterworks on both sides.”

Now she prepares for a big Sunday. In singles, she will face Peyton Stearns, who beat Kimberly Birrell in three sets. In doubles, Townsend and Hunter will meet Eudice Chong and Liang En-Shuo.

Townsend stands two wins away from a rare double title in Austin. After everything she has faced, she looks ready for the moment.





Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 updates, including the full schedule, teams, live scores, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.