First Rate: Pumped Up Townsend Leaps Into First Singles Final in Austin vs. Stearns
By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, February 28, 2026
Photo credit: ATX Open Facebook
The Austin hard court was a trampoline and Taylor Townsend hit rare air jumping for joy.
Wild card Townsend rallied from 1-4 down defeating Dallas’ Ashlyn Krueger 7-6(6), 6-3 to battle into her maiden WTA singles final at the ATX Open in Austin.
“Holy you know what,” an exuberant Townsend said in her on-court interview afterward. “I’m really proud today. I came out a little bit nervous. Things weren’t clicking, Ashlyn was playing really.
“It was one of those days things weren’t working. This feels so so good one of the goals I set was to win a tournament on every level. We’re gonna keep going. I’m really excited. I’m pumped.”
Playing just her second tournament of the year, world No. 119 Townsend rises back up the rankings to No. 86 in the WTA Live rankings.
The 2025 Australian Open doubles champion will face another Texan, Peyton Stearns, in tomorrow’s all-American Austin final.
Earlier, former Texas Longhorn all-American Stearns scored a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aussie Kimberly Birrell thrilling her adopted home fans in a two hour, seven-minute triumph.
Stearns spun a running short-angled forehand breaking again for a 4-2 lead in the decider. That shot sprung Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey from his seat applauding in support.
The fourth-seeded Stearns navigated a challenging deuce hold to back up the break for 5-2. Stearns scored her third three-set victory of the tournament advancing to her third career Tour-level final—and first since she won 2024 Rabat on red clay.
The 29-year-old Townsend beat Stearns, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, at the 2022 Cincinnati Open in their lone prior meeting.
It was a sad start to the day for Townsend, who shared she broke down in tears this morning when her four-year-old son, Adyn Aubrey, left Austin to return home prior to her first career singles semifinal.
Ultimately, Townsend said those early morning “water works” strengthened her for the struggles she faced in this semifinal—she not only rallied from 1-4 down in the opener, she saved set point at 5-6 in the tiebreaker.
“Today was actually a really really tough day for me,” Townsend said. “It was really emotional because I had to send my son back home so this morning there was a lot of water works on both sides. It was a really tough morning honestly.
“I was actually really emotional so I really tried to bring everything in and I’m really proud of way I was able to keep calm and keep my emotions in check. Those type of things give me strength. I’m really proud I can continue and the job’s not done yet.”
Early on, Townsend’s touch was MIA.
Drawing her opponent forward with the chip backhand, Townsend looped a lob long. Krueger broke at 15 for a 3-0 lead.
Dallas native Krueger won 12 of the first 15 points, snaring that 3-0 lead.
Wild card Townsend issued a love hold to get on the scoreboard at 1-4.
Striking the ball more crisply, Townsend ran off three games in a row cutting the deficit to 3-4.
Krueger served for the set at 5-4, but Townsend slid a forehand pass down the line for a 15-30 lead. Two points later, Krueger scattered an approach long and Townsend, from 1-4 down, was level after 10 games.
World No. 103 Krueger held at love to force the tiebreaker.
Initially, Townsend dominated the breaker bursting out to a 5-1 lead, but then the left-hander nearly drop-shotted herself into oblivion. Leading 5-3, Townsend drew the short ball she sought but tapped a forehand drop shot into net. Had she made it, she would have had a set point.
At 5-all, Townsend lifted a lob and was in prime position at net when she dumped a backhand drop volley into net giving Krueger set point.
Charging net, Townsend saved set point then earned a set point of her own on a Krueger netted backhand.
Townsend torched a backhand strike down the line ending a 16-shot rally with a bang to take the topsy-turvy 63-minute opening set.
Thwarting Krueger’s power-based baseline game with low, no-pace chip returns, Townsend sometimes forced the 6’ Texan into awkward positions on court and used her fine feel around the net—and her skill shifting the spins and height of her shots to carve out a crucial break.
Krueger sent a backhand long to face break point in the seventh game. Townsend hit a high, heavy return drawing the error to break for 4-3.
Serving to consolidate, Townsend torched one of her best shots of the match while facing a second break point. Leaning low, Townsend flattened out a two-handed backhand pass to save break point. Whipping the wide serve, she held for 5-3.
Exploiting Krueger’s seventh double fault, Townsend scored her second straight break closing in one hour, 49-minutes.
Celebrating her maiden WTA final with that jump for joy, Townsend reflected on her journey.
Eight months ago, Townsend made history as the first mom to ever rise to world No. 1 seizing the doubles top spot. Tomorrow, Townsend takes aim at her first Tour-level singles title sending a message to the skeptics who slammed her as “too big”, “too bold” and “too much of a finesse player” to ever make a an impact on the pro tour. In fact, some even criticized Townsend for starting pre-match warm-ups at net, despite the fact recreational players all over the nation do exactly that.
A jubilant Townsend sent a blunt message to the detractors and doubters today—”Buckle Up”—because there’s more success to come.
“It’s been a journey, but I wouldn’t change it at all because all those no’s were just delayed gratification for yes,” Townsend said. “Since having AJ, I’ve achieved history. I’m really really proud to hold that history. I’m creating a legacy for myself and doing it my way.
“Everyone who talked shit they gotta eat their words. I’m still standing, I’m not going anywhere it’s only gonna get better from here so I hope they buckle up.”
Post Comment