What does one feel after winning their first Grand Slam? Happy, relieved, on top of the world, and whatnot. It’s tough to describe the multitude of emotions that take over as dreams become a reality. The same happened with Taylor Townsend at the 2024 Wimbledon. The World No.7 in doubles has almost touched the Grand Slam on various occasions before the opponent ran away with the trophy in the last 2 years. However, this year, Townsend stood proudly with her trophy in the doubles. A month later, she revisits the night filled with happiness and a tiny bit of a rough morning!

Describing her Wimbledon doubles campaign as a “second career,” Townsend teamed up with experienced partner Katerina Siniakova. Despite being considered underdogs, the duo defied expectations to clinch the coveted Grand Slam title. The victory was a dream come true for Townsend, who had promised the achievement to her son. A celebratory night with Champagne followed as she basked in the glory of her historic win. However, the wild and fun night ended in a “terrible” morning. Why?

For a person who does not drink often, hangovers can be a horrible punishment. The same happened with Townsend. Recently in an interview with WTA, she detailed her morning-after celebration. When asked about her post-Wimbledon hangover, Townsend responded with a playful question: “Which one?” followed by laughter.  Of course, the Wimbledon one! “I hadn’t drank in so long and I don’t drink,” she loosened up to WTA Insider.

“Oh my god, I was looped. I literally made a video: I was like, 0 out of 10. Don’t recommend drinking champagne after playing matches and on an empty stomach. This is terrible.”- she remarked. The regret was not drinking, but drinking an empty stomach. Before entering the court, athletes make sure to digest their food during match preparation. Hence, when they are done with an intensive game, they are on an empty stomach. And being lulled by the win, Townsend was busy with “anti-doping blood and urine. So they drew blood, I peed in a cup and I’m drinking champagne.” 

Townsend captured the post-Wimbledon euphoria in an entertaining Instagram video, only to delete it after receiving a stern warning from her manager. True to her candid nature, Townsend likely harbors no regrets about the deleted post.“People had already seen it by the time I took it down, so I was just like, at this point I don’t even care,” Townsend said. “It was just such a genuine reaction.”

Nonetheless, an unforgettable memory for the American tennis star. However, after doubles she is eager to extend her wings in the singles too as she participates in the Canadian Open, to test herself against the best players. Just in time for the US Open.

Townsend may have another Champagne ready as she breaks new grounds at the Canadian Open

Townsend has been riding high on her Wimbledon win, as she carried the moment into the DC Open, winning the tournament with her double partner, Asia Muhammad. However, her 11-match winning streak ended at the Canadian Open. She crashed out of doubles along with her partner Sloane Stephens, against Giuliana Olmos and Jessica Pegula. But worry not.

For Townsend, the Canadian Open campaign is far from over as she has kept her hopes alive in the singles. After making the main draw as a lucky loser, Townsend advanced to her first Hologic WTA Tour quarterfinal by ousting No.4 seed Jelena Ostapenko in the Round of 16. The American has dropped a mere nine games en route to the quarterfinals, a feat matched only by Caroline Wozniacki in 2014, who dropped six games. Now she gets ready to face America’s Emma Navarro in the last eight.

As Townsend moves to shine brightly in the singles, she already has a dream ready for herself. And the Canadian Open might become her stepping stone, another champagne might come her way. But this time she would be ready with a hangover cure!