Taylor Townsend Getting Introduced To The Big Time

Written by: on 8th March 2013
Taylor Townsend Getting Introduced To The Big Time   |

Sixteen-year-old American Taylor Townsend is already getting an introduction to the big time world of pro tennis.

Townsend, who won her first WTA main draw match over Lucie Hradecka in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, is quite pleased to be walking around with a pro player badge rather than a junior one. But she also realizes she has yet to join the elite ranks, which is clear by the how the locker rooms are set up.

“With this locker room in particular they have a champions locker room, so they’re kind of cut off from the rest of us,” she said. “But it’s not as intimidating to me, but I just think it’s really cool that you kind of share the same environment, and if you want you have the opportunity to talk to them, and ask questions depending on how bold you are–I’m not that bold yet. Just being able to be in the same atmosphere and environment, and also being able to see how they prepare is kind of, it’s a lot that you can learn from being in the same atmosphere as them, so it’s really cool.”

The former junior world No. 1 also got a chance to shadow No. 4 Aga Radwanska during all-Access hour for the media on Wednesday. Radwanska was the first player into the interview room so she was grilled on a number of subjects, including a Fed Cup controversy, but she was also asked some lighthearted questions.

“It was cool,” Townsend said. “I enjoyed it because I had never seen anything like that before, I’ve seen them interview on TV, but just being able to be there, and she got some really crazy questions. I was like “whoa…” I need to mentally prepare myself if I’m going to get some of these.”

In December, Townsend switched USTA Player Development coaches. After working with coach Kathy Rinaldi for the past three years, she is now being coached by Juan Todero, who also oversees Madison Keys.

“It was my decision,’ she said. “Kathy and I had such a great run and we trained together for three years and she’s an amazing coach and person and we have such a great relationship. I just wanted a change and Juan and I really have good relationship. It wasn’t anything bad it was just trying to get different perspective and with me turning pro and trying to get to the next level I felt being with a guy would make it a little easier.”

Townsend also said that the incident with the USTA during the 2012 US Open is in her rear view mirror. At first the USTA would not fund her trip to New York for the junior draw and she and her mother decided to fly up themselves. They told some members of the media that the USTA had said that they didn’t want her to play because she was out of shape. But then it came out that she needed medical clearance to play because she had a low iron level. The two sides made amends and the USTA did end up paying for her trip. She used the incident as a springboard.

“It wasn’t a setback for me,” she said. “I was glad to play at the Open and that was really good motivation for me in the preseason to work as hard as I could to get in the best shape I could possibly be in so that if I got opportunities such as these, I could perform at my highest level and at my peak.”

©DaIly Tennis News Wire

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