Taylor Townsend explains how her relationship with Serena Williams has changed, ‘it’s actually very different’

Taylor Townsend has seen her relationship with Serena Williams change over the years.

Townsend has been on the WTA Tour since 2013, when Williams was in the prime of her tennis career.

Both are still active tennis players 13 years later, with Williams returning to professional tennis after a four-year hiatus earlier this year.

When discussing the 23-time Grand Slam champion, Townsend has revealed that she did not always have a relationship with Williams.

Taylor Townsend reveals that Serena Williams did not used to speak to her

Townsend spoke about Williams in an interview with Elle, as she revealed that her compatriot was once very standoffish with fellow WTA players during the prime of her career.

Williams played on the WTA Tour as a mother after giving birth to her first child in 2017, something that Townsend has now experienced after having her son, Adyn, in 2021. Townsend has revealed that Williams was very supportive of her during this time, which subsequently helped boost their relationship.

“My relationship with Serena, it’s actually very different now than it was when she was playing, like during this time,” said Townsend. “She was like ‘Uh-uh, like not talking to anybody.’ Like it was no talks in the locker room. If you play tennis, we ain’t talking to you. You know what I’m saying. Like it was literally like that.

“But you know, once she became a mom, I actually went to her house when I was pregnant and she put together one of my, like a registry for me and told me all of these things. ‘Get this and this and this.’

“Her postpartum journey and my postpartum journey were pretty similar. I felt like she could understand and could help and she did, and it honestly made me feel better to know that it wasn’t like a me thing. But it’s been great to have her around and it’s super cool to have her back out here. She hasn’t skipped a beat.”

Taylor Townsend explains why her only match against Serena Williams now annoys her

Townsend has only played one singles match against Williams in her career, which took place at the 2014 US Open, when she was just 18 years old. Williams beat Townsend 6-3, 6-1 in this match en route to her 18th of what is now 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

When looking back on this match, Townsend admitted that she is now annoyed by what people around her were telling her ahead of playing Williams at the US Open.

“This was the night match at the US Open 2014,” began Townsend. “This was the second Grand Slam that I had ever played in my life. I was like, ‘What are the odds of playing Serena?’ I was so nervous.

“Looking back on this, it actually makes me so p—– off. The people around me literally were like, ‘Just go out there and smile.’ What is that? Like I was not prepared at all to like win or feel like I could win. Everyone around me was like ‘Yeah, she’s cooked.’

“We could have done things so much better and so much different, but you know, I’ve had so many moments since then on Ashe. There have been several times that I’ve taken advantage of it and it’s been beautiful. So I’ve redeemed myself.”

Townsend has not played Williams since then, but it is unclear as to whether they will ever face each other again, with the latter’s future uncertain after losing in the first round of the US Open doubles tournament this year.

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