American WTA Star Changes Gears in a Detour From Tennis to Pickelball During Off-Season Break

Former top-10 WTA player Taylor Townsend has found a new passion away from the tennis court – pickleball. The 27-year-old American, known for her powerful serve-and-volley game, has been enjoying success in the fast-growing sport of pickleball in recent months. Consumed by the craze of this new sport, Townsend shared an exciting post.

While pickleball may seem like a fun hobby for most retired athletes, Townsend appears to be taking the sport very seriously. She has been practicing and playing several times a week to improve her pickleball technique.

Taylor Townsend trades a tennis racket for a pickleball paddle

In an Instagram story earlier this week, Townsend gave her over 80,000 followers a glimpse of her pickleball skills. She shared a post from Donald Young captioned, “Look who I got to come out and play some pickle 👀” featuring Kentaro Hamaguchi, Taylor Townsend, Moses Das, Ryan T. “I did a thing yesterday…. and I’m 🔥,” Townsend wrote on the story.

Townsend’s transition to pickleball is not entirely surprising given her aggressive net-rushing style of play on the tennis court. Her powerful serve and volley game has always been more suited to faster surfaces like grass and indoor hard courts. The smaller court dimensions and slower pace of pickleball play allow Townsend’s instincts and reflexes at the net to shine.

Taylor Townsend’s natural athleticism and competitive spirit have helped her find early success in local pickleball tournaments in her hometown of Chicago. Last month, Townsend won her first pro-am mixed doubles title alongside partner Colin Johns.

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A natural transition to the net-rushing game of pickleball

Taylor Townsend’s dedication to improving at pickleball is a testament to her work ethic and competitive drive. Even after achieving a career-high No. 7 ranking in singles on the WTA Tour, the 27-year-old is not content with resting on her tennis laurels. Her goal is to one day compete on the professional pickleball circuit.

“I’m treating pickleball like it’s my new sport and career. I want to get my ranking up and potentially play on the pro tours down the line,” Townsend declared. To aid in her pickleball development, she has been training with experienced coaches and seeking advice from the game’s top players. Townsend’s transition to pickleball comes at an opportune time as the sport continues to surge in popularity globally.

With her athletic pedigree and competitive drive, Townsend has the skills needed to achieve success at the highest levels of pickleball. Her devoted training approach will serve her well as she works to climb the professional ranks. Fans will be keeping a close eye on how the former tennis standout fares in her pickleball journey in the coming years.

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