The Winning Style of Townsend and Siniaková

Editor’s note: This article is part of the Winning Style series, exploring the methods elite tennis players use to excel.

NEW YORK — Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková have been doubles partners since spring 2024, standing out in the world of elite tennis. At a fall 2025 practice in Riyadh for the WTA Tour Finals, Townsend fully realized the exceptional talent of Siniaková. Having already achieved two Grand Slam doubles titles and reached another final at the 2025 U.S. Open, Townsend was able to observe Siniaková’s remarkable athleticism. During a less demanding moment, Townsend admired the precision of Siniaková’s footwork, her skillful ball control, and her seamless recovery.

“The way she did this drill?” Townsend remarked, emphasizing the point to reporters. “Now I see why she’s the best in the world.” Singles players often dominate media attention, overshadowing doubles achievements. However, on Friday at the U.S. Open, Townsend and Siniaková marked significant milestones, showcasing their exceptional skills. At age 30, Townsend and Siniaková defeated Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Krueger 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 in the women’s doubles final. This victory allowed Townsend to complete the career Grand Slam, a feat achieved by only 18 women since 1968, the advent of the Open Era.

Siniaková, ranked as the world’s top doubles player, achieved a rare milestone by completing the career Grand Slam twice, playing with different partners—the first tennis player to do so. Siniaková initially achieved this with compatriot Barbora Krejčíková, a two-time singles Grand Slam champion who succeeded at Wimbledon and the French Open. Winning the U.S. Open with Townsend grants Siniaková her 12th Grand Slam doubles title and 39th women’s doubles title overall. Their record as a pair improved to 81-16 after Friday’s match and they remain 7-0 in finals for 2026.

“Big thanks to Taylor. You really fought for this one, so I’m just proud we did it. There were a lot of nerves…Thank you,” Siniaková said during the trophy presentation. In terms of Grand Slam doubles titles, only eight women have reached the 12-title mark in the Open Era. Siniaková could surpass Martina Navratilova, who holds 31 titles, in terms of year-end No. 1 finishes, as Navratilova achieved this status five times before.

Siniaková, unlike many at the top of the doubles rankings, doesn’t specialize solely in doubles. She has maintained a top-75 singles spot since 2014 and top-50 ranking since 2023. Her singles career informs her tournament choices and training schedule. Her standout singles performance at a Grand Slam was at the French Open in 2019, reaching the fourth round.

Her game thrives with a partner by her side. Siniaková has been successful in doubles since winning the French Open in 2018 with Krejčíková. Many athletes despise losing more than they enjoy winning, yet Siniaková is driven by the emotions of victory. “I want more,” she emphasized. Her desire for winning originates from childhood expectations.

Siniaková excelled at choosing partners, notably Townsend in 2024 after Storm Sanders was sidelined by an injury. Townsend, initially partnering with Beatriz Haddad Maia, switched after Siniaková’s Instagram message. Townsend attributes their winning streak—seven titles—to their off-court rapport. Their bond spans back to age 13 but evolved significantly over the past two years.

Townsend spent time with Siniaková’s family in the Czech Republic and welcomed Siniaková to her Atlanta home. They bonded over dinners and singles matches. “It’s been a learning curve for her as well, with cultural differences. But it’s neat seeing we have common values, and it’s empowering,” Townsend said.

Townsend now speaks some Czech, learning words like “ice cream” and “bagel,” as they dominated the recent tournament. Her 5-year-old son humorously suggested she switch careers to firefighting, a sentiment Townsend shared with laughter, knowing she isn’t ready to leave tennis.

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