Taylor Townsend Has A Fan In Andy Murray

New American sensation Taylor Townsend is quickly drawing rave reviews from those in tennis. The 18-year-old American from Washington D.C. pulled the biggest win of her young career knocking out France’s best player Alize Cornet today in three sets 64, 46, 64.

During the match, Townsend led the No. 20 seed in both of the last two sets, by 4-1 in the second and 5-1 in the third and still managed to win.

“I have been preparing for these moments,” Townsend said. “These are the kinds of things that I have been working for every day, you know; putting in hours on the court, putting in hours in the gym, putting in hours off the court. So I’m really happy, but these are the things, these are the moments, these are the things that any young professional athlete is working for. I’m really fortunate that I took advantage of it today.”

Townsend also got a message via twitter from Andy Murray.

@andy_murray Thanks Thanks a lot Andy!!! :)

— Taylor Townsend (@Taylor_Townsen) May 28, 2014

And she has a great smile! Gutsy win

— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) May 28, 2014

Townsend responded.

Townsend, who only drew entry via a special USTA playoff wildcard, is the only American female thus far to reach the French Open third round. And what’s even more astonishing is that it’s her first Grand Slam event!

I have been preparing for these moments. These are the kinds of things that I have been working for every day, you know; putting in hours on the court, putting in hours in the gym, putting in hours off the court.
So I’m really happy, but these are the things, these are the moments, these are the things that any young professional athlete is working for. I’m really fortunate that I took advantage of it today.

Townsend, who is ranked No. 205 in the world, competed in the junior French Open twice — reaching the singles quarterfinals in 2013 and the doubles semifinals in 2012 with Eugenie Bouchard.

She is a former junior standout, clinching the year-end ITF No. 1 junior ranking in 2012 to become the first American girl to hold that position since Gretchen Rush in 1982. Also in 2012, Townsend won the Australian Open junior singles and doubles titles, as well as the junior doubles titles at the US Open and Wimbledon. Townsend turned pro at the start of 2013 and in turn, won her first WTA-level main-draw match in the first round of Indian Wells. Townsend is currently coached by former world No. 4 and Olympic doubles gold medalist Zina Garrison.