While singles remains her primary focus, the doubles game is where Townsend made a seismic impact in 2022. She reunited with longtime friend Madison Keys at Roland Garros, and made an improbable run to the semifinals.
“I had played with her briefly in a World Team Tennis all-star thing, and won our match against the team we played against like 5-0,” Townsend recalled.
They wanted to keep the partnership going but conflicting schedules derailed a potentially dominant doubles team.
“I’ve known her for so many years and I just wanted to play with somebody I was comfortable with.” As Keys went on to focus on her singles in the summer, Townsend was partner-less until US Billie Jean King Cup captain Kathy Rinaldi played the role of matchmaker.
“She had reached out to me and said, “Hey I don’t know if you’re looking for anyone, but these people are looking for doubles partners for the US stuff,” and I was like oh ok.”
One Instagram direct message later, a partnership was formed that would reach the finals of the US Open. Townsend and Caty McNally fit like a glove stylistically, complimenting each other and developing instant chemistry that propelled them to within one set of a major trophy. It brought out the best in McNally, and reinvigorated Townsend.