Taylor Townsend’s name has long been associated with resilience, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of tennis excellence. Now, at 29 years old, the Chicago-born lefty has etched her place in the sport’s record books as the first mother ever to reach the WTA doubles world No. 1 ranking—a feat that makes her the 50th player to hold the prestigious top spot. But Townsend’s ambitions are anything but confined to doubles glory. Her recent singles campaign at the Cincinnati Open has revealed a player determined to shake off the “doubles specialist” label and prove her mettle on both fronts.
Fresh off a quarterfinal run at the Citi Open in July—where she ultimately bowed out to champion Leylah Fernandez—Townsend arrived in Cincinnati with renewed focus. Though her doubles journey ended earlier than anticipated with a first-round exit, the setback only seemed to fuel her singles ambitions. “When you watch Townsend play tennis, it is with wonder. Her hands are soft. You can imagine her catching baseball line drives with ease. She has impeccable instincts at the net,” noted one observer, highlighting the unique skills that have made her a force in both disciplines.
Townsend’s singles draw in Cincinnati was no cakewalk. She opened with a tense all-American duel against former world No. 2 Danielle Collins—a match that left Collins in tears and Townsend pondering the ultimate prize. When asked if she’d prefer a singles major or the unprecedented sweep of all four Grand Slam doubles titles in a single year, Townsend’s initial answer was the singles crown. But then she reconsidered: “Wait, no one has ever won all four doubles Slams in a season, right? OK, I’ll take that. Something that’s never been done.” That’s Taylor Townsend—unconventional, honest, and always chasing history.
Her next challenge came in the form of 13th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist and one of the tour’s most dangerous power players. Townsend, ranked 75th in singles at the time, delivered an aggressive and creative performance, dispatching Samsonova 6-2, 6-4. The victory was punctuated by an emphatic ace—her sixth of the set—and a string of service winners that showcased her confidence and maturity. “Townsend finished her first-set win over Samsonova with an emphatic ace, her sixth of the set, and won on her first match point with a satisfying service winner at 40-15,” reported local media. Her superior conditioning was evident throughout, as Samsonova sought relief in ice towels and a change of clothes while Townsend barely broke a sweat.
But the Cincinnati Open would not be the site of a singles breakthrough for the American. In the third round, Townsend ran into the surging 22-year-old Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. With a career-high singles ranking of world No. 50, Bouzas Maneiro had already stunned 21st-seeded Leylah Fernandez—herself a U.S. Open finalist in 2021—to earn her shot at Townsend. The Spanish upstart kept Townsend off-balance and out of rhythm, ultimately ending the American’s singles run in straight sets on Monday morning.
Bouzas Maneiro’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Born in Spain, she began her tennis journey at Club de Tenis O Rial before joining the renowned Ferrero Tennis Academy in Alicante at just 13, where she trained alongside the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and David Ferrer. In 2022, she moved to Madrid to work with Javier Martí, former coach of Paula Badosa, and added Roberto Ortega Olmedo to her team in September 2023 for additional strategic refinement. Her breakthrough 2024 season included a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over Emma Navarro at Roland Garros and a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon, proving her adaptability on every surface. Bouzas Maneiro’s first WTA 1000 quarterfinal in Montreal cemented her status as one of the tour’s brightest young talents, and her Cincinnati campaign—marked by victories over Venus Williams and Fernandez—has only added to her growing reputation.
For Townsend, the latest defeat is just another chapter in a career defined by overcoming adversity. Once the world’s top-ranked junior, her early years were marred by controversy when the USTA denied her a U.S. Open qualifying wild card in 2012, allegedly due to concerns about her weight. “Our concern is for her long-term development,” USTA spokesman Patrick McEnroe said at the time, a comment that drew sharp criticism from tennis legends like Lindsay Davenport, Serena Williams, and Martina Navratilova. Townsend ultimately left her USTA coaches, trained under 1990 Wimbledon finalist Zina Garrison, and later moved to Atlanta to work with Donald Young’s father.
Her personal journey has been equally inspiring. Townsend became a mother four years ago, and her son Adyn Aubrey has already picked up a racket, playing left-handed just like his mom. Despite her status as the world’s top doubles player—she’s only the 13th American woman to achieve that distinction—Townsend has found it tough to attract major sponsorships. Undeterred, she launched her own apparel line at the 2025 French Open in collaboration with designer Alexander Julian, debuting outfits emblazoned with her “TT” logo. “I’m No. 2 in the world in doubles and still don’t have a clothing sponsor. This is just the start,” Townsend said in Paris.
On the doubles court, Townsend’s partnership with Katerina Siniakova has yielded remarkable results, including Wimbledon doubles glory in 2024 and the 2025 Australian Open title. She now boasts eight WTA Tour doubles championships and was seeded third in Cincinnati with partner Zhang Shuai, who herself is a two-time doubles major winner. Yet, the musical chairs of doubles partnerships and the relentless tennis calendar have prompted Townsend to join fellow stars Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz in calling for reforms. The physical and mental toll of competing in both singles and doubles, coupled with constant travel and surface changes, has become a growing concern for many on the tour. Townsend emphasizes the human element often overlooked in scheduling decisions, pointing out that players are expected to perform at their peak despite ever-changing conditions.
As the dust settles on Cincinnati, the clash between Townsend and Bouzas Maneiro stands as a testament to the sport’s evolving landscape. Townsend’s experience and historic achievements met the fearless ambition of an emerging star, and while this time it was Bouzas Maneiro who advanced, both players left the court with their reputations enhanced. For Townsend, the dream of singles and doubles glory remains alive as she sets her sights on the U.S. Open and beyond. For Bouzas Maneiro, Cincinnati is another stepping stone in a breakout season that has the tennis world buzzing.
With the U.S. Open looming and both players in fine form, fans can expect to see plenty more from these two dynamic athletes. The road to tennis greatness is rarely smooth, but for Taylor Townsend and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the journey is only just beginning.
