Taylor Townsend didn't just appear out of thin air on a tennis court. She’s a product of the South Side of Chicago, and if you know anything about that part of the city, you know it breeds a specific kind of grit. When people ask where is Taylor Townsend from, they usually want to know how a girl with a serve-and-volley game—a style that feels like it belongs in the 1970s—came out of a neighborhood not exactly known for its country clubs.
The answer is Englewood.
Growing up in the Englewood and Chatham neighborhoods of Chicago, Townsend was raised by Gary and Sheila Townsend. Her mom, Sheila, wasn't just some casual fan; she played Division II ball at Lincoln University. This wasn't a "tennis parent" situation where someone was living vicariously through their kid. It was just life. Sheila was out there playing matches while she was eight months pregnant with Taylor. Basically, Taylor was on a tennis court before she was even born.
Chicago Beginnings and the XS Tennis Connection
It’s kinda wild to think about, but Taylor’s early training happened at the same place where many of Chicago's toughest competitors sharpen their teeth: XS Tennis. This wasn't some fancy academy with manicured hedges and a juice bar. It was local, intense, and focused. She was coached by Kamau Murray—who eventually coached Sloane Stephens to a US Open title—and Aaron Mabra.
Mabra once mentioned that growing up in Englewood is what gave Taylor her mental edge. It's a tough neighborhood. You don't get soft there. You learn to handle "day-to-day life situations," as he put it, which makes facing a break point in the third set of a Grand Slam feel a lot less scary.
By age eight, things got serious. Her mother was close friends with Donald Young Sr. (yes, the father of tennis pro Donald Young). They actually grew up together on the South Side. Because of that connection, the family moved to Atlanta so Taylor could train with Donald Sr.
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The Path Through Georgia and Florida
The geography of her career gets a bit messy here because she moved around a lot to find the right training.
- Chicago: Birthplace and early childhood training at XS Tennis.
- Atlanta: Moved here at age eight to work with the Young family.
- Boca Raton: At 14, she headed to Florida to join the USTA development program.
That move to Florida was supposed to be the "golden ticket," but it ended up being the source of one of the biggest controversies in modern American tennis.
That Infamous USTA Conflict
You can't talk about where Taylor Townsend is from without talking about the 2012 US Open. At the time, she was the No. 1 junior in the world. She was winning everything. But the USTA did something pretty unheard of: they refused to pay for her travel to the US Open because they weren't happy with her "fitness."
Basically, they told the best junior in the world she was too heavy to play.
Taylor didn't back down. She ended up paying her own way (with some help from a fundraiser organized by her coaches back in Chicago). She went to the tournament, played her heart out, and eventually, the USTA had to eat their words. It was a defining moment. It proved that while she might have been training in Florida or Georgia, that Chicago South Side "don't mess with me" attitude was still very much intact.
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Where Does She Live Now?
If you're looking for her today, she isn't in Chicago. Taylor currently resides in Smyrna, Georgia.
It’s a suburb of Atlanta, which makes sense given her long history with the tennis community there. She’s also a mom now, having given birth to her son, Adyn Aubrey, in 2021. Her return to the tour as a mother has been nothing short of legendary. Since coming back, she’s reached No. 1 in the world in doubles (in 2025) and won major titles at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
Quick Stats on Taylor Townsend (As of 2026)
Honestly, her resume is getting long.
- Born: April 16, 1996, in Chicago, IL.
- Current Residence: Smyrna, Georgia.
- Career High Singles Ranking: No. 46.
- Career High Doubles Ranking: No. 1.
- Major Titles: Wimbledon 2024 (Doubles), Australian Open 2025 (Doubles).
- Playing Style: Left-handed, aggressive serve-and-volley.
Why Her Origins Actually Matter
Most tennis players come from a very specific mold. They’re often from wealthy backgrounds, they go to the same three academies in Bradenton, and they play a baseline-heavy game that looks exactly like everyone else's.
Taylor is different.
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She's a lefty who was actually born right-handed but was converted to a southpaw by the Young family. She’s a black woman from a neighborhood in Chicago that doesn't usually produce Grand Slam champions. She’s a mother who refused to let body-shamers dictate her career.
When you see her charging the net or hitting a delicate drop volley that leaves her opponent stranded, you're seeing that Chicago creativity. It’s a "find a way" mentality. Whether she’s in a heated match against Jelena Ostapenko or teaching Cardi B how to hold a racket, she carries that South Side identity with her.
So, while she might call Georgia home these days, Taylor Townsend is, and always will be, a Chicagoan at heart. She’s proof that it doesn't matter where you start—even if it's a public court in Englewood—as long as you’ve got the game (and the guts) to back it up.
If you want to follow her journey more closely, the best way is to keep an eye on the doubles draws at the upcoming Grand Slams. She’s currently one of the most dominant forces on the pair's circuit. You can also check out her social media for a look at her life in Smyrna with her son, which gives a much more personal view of the champion behind the racket.