Serena Williams and Taylor Townsend go way back but can we say the United States Tennis Association has come a long way? There was a time not so long ago when America’s brightest top-ranked junior Tennis star was denied funding not because she didn’t qualify or that she was losing but because they thought she was overweight which was cited as a subpar level of conditioning. Taylor was just 16 at the time! Serena Williams wasn’t one to keep quiet: “If that happened, that’s obviously a tragedy… Women athletes come in all sizes and shapes and colors and everything.”

Townsend wasn’t one to pull back, or shall we say, a supportive local hometown organization back in Chicago called XS Tennis helped launch a fundraiser for her paved the way. She eventually went on to win doubles and reached the single quarterfinals. And till date, Serena remains Taylor’s hype woman in all things fashion and appearances. Fast forward to 2024, Taylor has had a triumphant year as it brought her the first Grand Slam of her career at Wimbledon alongside her doubles partner Katerina Siniakova. And what’s better than to embrace the holiday vibes, amid the Christmas season, by sharing her gorgeous looks on social media. The highlight definitely was to see Serena still showing the kind of camaraderie just like how she did all those years ago!

The 2024 US Open finalist in mixed doubles dropped a series of photos, sporting a stunning black dress. She paired it up with open-toe heels. Her light blonde hair completed the overall look. “Tay’s 2024 Holiday Card”🎁✨☝🏾” she wrote while giving a fitting caption. Indeed, she looked absolutely ready for Christmas. A fashionista herself, this did not skip the eyes of Serena. And not only she but former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka also became a fan of her looks as they can’t get enough of Taylor’s special “Holiday card.”

Of course, the post had to invite adorable comments and appreciation from her fans. Firstly, the Japanese tennis sensation Osaka dropped her reaction as she was in complete awe of Taylor. “Oh slay 🔥” she simply wrote. Then, it was the turn of the tennis legend, who shared her reaction. “Looking like a snack. What aisle you on? 😍😍😍” she wrote. Notably, this is not the first time Serena has admired Townsend.

On October 18, Taylor took to Instagram to share her bridesmaid look in social media influencer April Buckles’ wedding. She donned a white dress while using products from Serena’s beauty brand Wyn for make-up. “Make up beat thanks to Wyn. @serenawilliams, you did your big one with this,” Townsend wrote. In response, Serena shared the picture on her Instagram story along with two heart emojis. While, this links Townsend with Serena, do you know she strikes a special chord with Naomi Osaka too?

In August, Osaka shared her struggles to return to the court after giving birth to her daughter earlier this year. “My biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body. It’s a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to,” Osaka wrote, reflecting on the gap between her past and present performance. As a mother who herself made a comeback after giving birth to her son Adyn in 2021, Townsend could easily relate.

“That was the first time that I’ve seen her like in person since having her baby. All of the women who have had kids and came back could have easily been like, I’m good. Like, they’ve accomplished enough to where they didn’t need to, like, you didn’t have to come back. But you decided to, so I commend them. Be like, salute, position is hard,” Townsend said on ‘The Changeover’ podcast in solidarity with Osaka.

Townsend’s journey back to competitive tennis has been indeed inspiring. After her own struggles, she found her rhythm in the 2022 US Open, reaching the women’s doubles final. This was followed by victories in the 2023 Miami Open, French Open, and Cincinnati Open in women’s doubles. As the offseason kicks in, Taylor is also trying to spend time with Adyn, who is now three-year-old. Well, it appears Adyn is keen on taking up the sport when he grows up. In fact, his interest compelled his mother to draw a parallel with a prominent ATP star!

Taylor Townsend compares son Adyn’s on-court skills with a popular ATP pro

A few days back, Taylor Townsend discovered a special surprise when she caught Adyn trying his hands at tennis. In an Instagram story, dated December 17, the single mother revealed an adorable clip of him playing the sport. His accuracy was so good that he successfully hit a clear shot over the net!

The moment was undoubtedly special for Taylor as she wrote, “You’ve got a backhand on you. AJ Good Job!” Expressing her hopes for Adyn’s bright future in tennis, the mother gave a huge shout-out to the current World No.1, Italy’s Jannik Sinner. “My Man’s gonna have a backhand like @janniksin….I Hope,” she wrote in her caption. To her, Adyn’s stroke-making skills reminded her of Sinner’s on-court heroics he’s known for. Well, that’s a great comparison to make!

Ahead of her 2025 season, Taylor Townsend is trying to fulfill all her responsibilities of being a mother, trying to give as much time as possible to Adyn. But even her son is not behind in supporting her. In one of her recent social media updates, she revealed how he accompanies her to her tennis practice before going to his jiu-jitsu classes. “After my practice, we go jujitsu 🥳 ✨,” she wrote while reflecting on her commitment to being a mother and a professional athlete.

With 2024 behind her, she will look to leave a lasting impression in the next season too. Do you think she will be able to deliver an impactful performance in 2025? Let us know in the comments below.