NEW YORK (AP) – Taylor Townsend doesn’t get to ease her way into her first U.S. Open.
Nothing bigger than this: center court, prime time, Serena Williams.
The 18-year-old American faces the two-time defending champ under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night. It will be just her third Grand Slam tournament. In her first, she made the third round at this year’s French Open.
Knocking on the door of the top 100 in the rankings, Townsend got into the U.S. Open on a wild card. Williams said she’s jealous that the former top-ranked junior is a lefty. Turns out that the No. 1 player in the world has always dreamed of having the sort of spin that left-handers get on their groundstrokes.
Other things to watch Tuesday on the second day of the U.S. Open: