Photo credit: Taylor Townsend
Taylor Townsend is making her presence felt at the 2026 U.S. Open.
The American delivered one of her strongest performances of the tournament Wednesday, defeating Taylah Preston 6-1, 6-1 in just 48 minutes.
Townsend controlled the match from the start. She won all 23 of her first-serve points and hit eight aces as she powered her way into the third round.
The victory followed another impressive performance in her opening match, when Townsend defeated No. 20 seed Maja Chwalinska in straight sets.
She will now face Diana Shnaider in the third round.
For Townsend, the win is another reminder that she belongs on the biggest stages in tennis.
Taylor Townsend Is Winning in Style
Townsend is also bringing something else to Flushing Meadows: fashion.
Her U.S. Open appearance has become part of a larger conversation about how Black tennis players are using style to express their personalities and culture.
Townsend arrived at the tournament with several custom looks planned for her run. Her opening outfit featured a red corset-inspired tennis dress with hand-beaded crystal fringe, creating a look that was impossible to overlook.
The outfit was created by Anthony Lattimore and styled by J. Bolin.
Townsend has also taken her fashion ambitions beyond the court. Ahead of the tournament, she launched a pop-up shop in Brooklyn featuring pieces from her own clothing line.
Her approach is personal. Rather than simply following traditional tennis fashion, Townsend is using clothing to show another side of herself.
Naomi Osaka Adds to the Fashion Moment
Taylor Townsend is not the only Black tennis star making fashion part of the U.S. Open experience.
Naomi Osaka has also been turning heads in New York.
For her opening-round appearance, Osaka paid tribute to Allen Iverson, the former NBA star whose influence reaches far beyond basketball. Osaka wore cornrows and a dramatic look inspired by Iverson before revealing a black tennis outfit underneath.
The tribute connected two sports and two fashion cultures.
Iverson became known for bringing basketball and streetwear together, while Osaka has developed her own reputation for turning Grand Slam entrances into cultural moments.
Her U.S. Open looks once again demonstrate that tennis fashion can tell a story.
Black Tennis Is Having a Moment
Townsend’s victory and Osaka’s fashion moments are part of something bigger happening in tennis.
Black women have long influenced the sport, with Serena and Venus Williams changing perceptions of what a tennis champion could look like, sound like and represent.
Now, a new generation is building on that legacy.
Townsend is bringing her competitive edge and distinctive style. Osaka continues to mix sport with culture and fashion. Coco Gauff, meanwhile, remains one of the biggest young stars in women’s tennis after winning her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open in 2023.
Their presence makes the current moment feel particularly significant.
Black tennis is not simply about representation on the court anymore. It is also about creativity, individuality and ownership of the culture surrounding the sport.
Taylor Townsend Is Part of the New Era
Townsend’s latest win gives that conversation even more weight.
The fashion may capture attention before the match, but her performance is what keeps the spotlight on her.
A 6-1, 6-1 victory at a Grand Slam is a statement in itself.
Now, as Townsend moves into the third round, she has another opportunity to show what she can do against the world’s best.
And whether she is holding a racket or making a fashion statement, Townsend is helping define what the modern Black tennis star looks like.
At this year’s U.S. Open, she is doing both and winning.
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Source: The U.S. Open, Vogue, The Associated Press
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