Townsend explains her lefty roots, and legendary idol

Taylor Townsend's name has been part of the global tennis conversation since she was barely into her teens. The American turned pro at just 14, and earned her major spark of recognition by winning the 2012 junior Australian Open.

The 24-year-old recently appeared on the TENNIS.com Podcast, so here are five newish things to know about her.

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1

She started off as a righty

"I naturally am left handed, I eat left handed, I write left handed, but I picked up the racket with my right hand and I just started hitting balls with it," she said.

From a young age, she was worked with Donald Young Sr. (Donald Young's father) and it was at summer camp at age six that the switch took place because kept falling over during drills.

"So my coach thought I was slow," she said. "He was like, maybe something's really wrong with her."

Since Donald Jr. was a naturally righty too, but plays lefty, his mom thought Taylor should try lefty, too.

"So we started doing stuff with my left hand. I couldn't make contact with the ball, I couldn't do anything and I was so mad," she said. "But they both made me kind of stick with it and then I stopped falling."

2

Her idol growing up was Martina Navratilova

While Townsend is young enough to name almost anyone as her idol, she's gone a little old school with Navratilova.

"She wore glasses when I played and she wore glasses when I played, and she was left handed," Townsend said. "But as I got older I really liked the way that she carried herself on the court, her competitiveness, she was very spunky and feisty, and that's kind of like how I am."

3

She's not a homebody

The quarantine has been a challenge for everyone, more so for Townsend who's used to being active, social and outside. She's doing her best by stocking up on supplies like hiking boots, painting canvases, puzzles and books.

"I think every tennis player is so used to having their routine and having something and somewhere to go all the time, and something to do," she said. "Now I'm trying to find different things to do to keep myself challenged."

4

The Top 50 was in her sights

A dedicated World TeamTennis player, with the 2020 schedule adjusted for the Olympics, Townsend was going to get to play tournaments she'd usually miss like Washington and Cincinnati.

"I set personal goals. I wanted to hit Top 50 before the US Open," she said. "I still have it but it's just the uncertainty of when things will kick off again."

Townsend is currently ranked No. 73, and enjoyed her biggest career breakthrough at the US Open last year, where she reached the fourth round as a qualifier.

5

She's got cleanliness standards

With the coronavirus pandemic causing the globe to come to a screeching halt, Townsend has high hopes for some positives that could come from it, particularly when it comes to cleanliness standards.

"Cleanliness should be a top priority when it comes to venues and places where you are interacting with people from all over the world," she said. "It's a lot of different people coming in and out of certain places. hopefully it kind of jus becomes a standard of this is what we will and will not accept. I think that's one positive."