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Taylor Townsend is no stranger to bold fashion on court — remember her neon yellow bodysuit at Rome 2023? The American, who recently made history as the first mom to reach the No. 1 doubles ranking, is now channeling her creativity into her very own tennis fashion brand. Without a clothing sponsor since 2017, she’s taken matters into her own hands. At the upcoming US Open, expect to see her showcasing the TT logo alongside designs featuring orca, Tyrannosaurus rex, and phoenix motifs.
Since her Nike sponsorship ended, Townsend has competed without an official clothing partner. Instead of waiting for the next deal, she’s building her own brand that blends unusual motifs with personal meaning. Collaborating with designer Alexander-John, whose résumé includes work with New Balance and Puma, she’s created a set of looks that she’ll debut match by match in New York.
For her mixed doubles with Ben Shelton, Townsend plans to wear an orca-inspired kit. The idea came after actor Samuel L. Jackson, a longtime tennis fan, sent her a message during the Washington tournament earlier this summer. In one Instagram photo, she raised her arm like a shark fin, and Jackson jokingly replied that she wasn’t a shark, but an orca. That comment stuck, and now she’ll step out in styles featuring whale motifs.
When she begins her singles campaign, Townsend will switch to a Tyrannosaurus rex theme, a nod to her four-year-old son’s love of dinosaurs. For women’s doubles, where she’ll team up with Katerina Siniakova, the theme is the phoenix. Her planned outfits include a black dress adorned with glowing ember-like details and a fiery long-sleeved top with flames racing up the arms. To Townsend, the mythical bird symbolizes her career journey: burning down old chapters and rising stronger each time.
While her prototypes aren’t yet in retail production, Townsend sees this venture as a step toward partnering with a larger apparel company that can scale her vision. Fans, however, won’t have to wait too long to show their support, as she’ll be releasing branded TT merchandise, including hoodies and T-shirts, at a Manhattan event on August 22. (source: The New York Times, photo: Jimmie48)
