Townsend, Tauson continue comeback trail to qualify for Roland Garros
A year ago, Taylor Townsend returned to the Tour for the first time since the birth of her son, and on Friday she confirmed how close she is to her best level again.
The world No. 7 in doubles and just outside the top 100 in singles at No. 108, the 27-year-old American has been very impressive throughout the Roland Garros Qualifying event, ultimately beating Maria Timofeeva 7-5 6-2 to clinch her spot in the main draw.
“It feels great," she said, all smiles, after the win. "This time last year, Roland Garros was my first Slam coming back after having my son. So it really means a lot to come here and to earn my spot in the main draw. And just knowing the hard work that I've put in is paying off.”
Should we retire this 'comeback train' narrative then, 12 months on?
“No, I think I'm still on the comeback trail," she said. "I think about it and when I talk about it, it's crazy, because it feels like it's been much longer, but it's only been a year.
"I don't want to retire it because I feel like it's a part of who I am and of my story to motivate other people, other moms and other athletes to just continue to show that you can do this. Having a child or having setbacks doesn't stop you from being able to achieve what you want. It inspires a lot of people and I hold that very dear to my heart because that's what I want to do.”
Townsend, in the latter half of her twenties, is enjoying her time on the Tour more than ever. Taking a step back didn’t hurt her at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. She found a purpose again.
“Leaving the sport for almost two years and then coming back was so healthy for me because I've never had a break and had gone through so many things in my career, so I always felt like I was kind of scratching and clawing," she admitted. "And I really fell in love with it and re-fell in love with why I'm doing this.”
Townsend has made a deal with herself that every day spent away from her son has to be meaningful.
“It's just given me a new level of motivation, to just know what my purpose is. My purpose is a lot greater. When you're younger, losses are like the worst thing in the world, but now it's like, you understand there's another tournament, there's another match, so I just feel I have a really grounded perspective.
"When I left to go to Australia at the beginning of the year, and I realised I hadn't been away from him for two months straight, I was crying on the way to the airport. I was even crying like here a couple of days ago. I just realised that when I'm out here and when I'm traveling and when I'm away, I have to make it count.
"It's not about the wins and the losses. It's about: 'am I doing everything that I can out here to make being away from home worth it? Am I learning? Am I growing? Am I getting better?' If I'm not, take your ass home.”
There was a time when Townsend thought she was not good enough for the game, despite all her natural talent and early achievements. But that time is over and her results have shown it since her comeback with two titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour last year - at W100 Charleston and W80 Tyler - and her recent WTA triumph at the $125k event in Florence.
“I've struggled in the past with ‘am I good enough?’ and that kind of self doubt," Townsend admitted. "My doubles success has helped me tremendously in my singles as well, because it has allowed me to stay in tournaments and compete and play against the best players in the world constantly.
"I think it's been incredibly helpful for me, same for my time on the ITF [World Tennis Tour] where the level is very high as we can see here because many qualifiers also come from it. I'm thankful for the journey that I had because without it I wouldn't understand and appreciate being here. I know that I belong, I believe that I belong here and have the level to play against anyone.”
Clara Tauson is also a player on the comeback trail. The world No. 33 in February 2022, the Dane's rapid rise was abruptly halted by a back injury.
She has begun to re-build both form and ranking this year with her first title in 18 months at W60 Altenkirchen and a run to the final at W40 Maribor.
She won a huge fight on Friday to qualify for Roland Garros, beating Mirjam Bjorklund 7-5 6-7(3) 6-2 to earn a spot in the main draw.
“It’s been a tough journey, but I know I have a good level when I reach it and I think I belong here in the main draw," Tauson said. "I’m really happy with the win because it was tough today, and my game was not feeling its best so I’m really pleased I got through it.
"Playing a Swedish player that I know very well was tough.”
Tauson doesn’t feel that she is back to her best level yet but she has no doubt that it will come soon enough.
“It was frustrating not to be able to do what you love, but to compete you have to be healthy, and I am now and I’m working every day to keep being healthy," she said. "It’s been difficult but I know that if I’m healthy I can do some damage here and so I’m looking forward to it. I’m still missing something, I can feel that. But I know it will come back at some point if I work hard.”