Taylor Townsend Abruptly Pulls Out of Tournament for ‘Emergency Surgery’ Days After Winning US Open Title

Skyler CarusoThu, September 17, 2026 at 2:28 PM UTC

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Taylor Townsend wins US Open title; Taylor Townsend in hospital.Credit: John Nacion/Getty; Taylor Townsend/Instagram -

Taylor Townsend withdrew from the GDL Open due to emergency surgery shortly after her US Open doubles win

She and partner Kateřina Siniaková recently achieved a career Grand Slam by winning all four major doubles titles

Townsend expressed gratitude to fans and plans to return to the GDL Open next year despite the setback

Taylor Townsend is opening up about a recent health challenge.

The 30-year-old tennis star revealed on Wednesday, Sept. 16 that she had to withdraw from the Guadalajara Open (GDL Open) due to “emergency surgery” just days after winning the US Open women’s doubles title with Kateřina Siniaková on Friday, Sept. 11.

“Hi everybody, on the heels of achieving my first career Grand Slam at the US Open, I was so excited to play in front of all of you in Guadalajara. Because of emergency surgery, I am forced to withdraw from the GDL Open, and it breaks my heart,” Townsend said in a statement shared with the GDL Open on Wednesday.

Taylor Townsend shares medical update on Sept. 16 and Sept. 17, 2026.Credit: Taylor Townsend/Instagram

She added, “I’m looking forward to coming back here next year to see all of you, the greatest tennis fans. Viva Mexico!!!”

Townsend, who completed a career Grand Slam in women’s doubles with her US Open title, shared more information on her Instagram Stories later in the day Wednesday.

“Welp... this s--- definitely wasn’t on my bingo card... 😭. Through trails [sic] and tribulations... still I rise 🐦‍🔥 I’ll update ya’ll soon❤️,” she wrote.

On Thursday, Sept. 17, Townsend posted a photo of herself from a hospital bed. She wore a hospital gown and posed with her taped-up hand on her head.

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Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend in action during the 2026 US Open on Sept. 11, 2026.Credit: Manuela Davies/USTA via Getty

“🐦‍🔥❤️🥲,” she added over the picture.

Townsend and Siniaková, 30, defeated Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery in the women’s doubles final at the 2026 US Open last week, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2.

She and Siniakova, who hails from Czechia, secured women’s doubles titles at Wimbledon in 2024, the Australian Open in 2025 and this year’s French Open.

Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of the United States pose with the trophy after winning the US Open women’s doubles title.Credit: Sarah Stier/Getty

After winning in Flushing Meadows, Townsend opened up about the nerves she felt in her third US Open final in the last five years, and how Siniakova helped “relax” and calm them.

“I think that’s what I’ve learned is just being able to have someone on my side that is able to help me through these situations and through these moments, and it helps to have someone that’s been here so many times and who has been able to get over the hump 12 times,” she said, per WTA Tennis.

“That’s the most important,” Townsend continues. “Being able to feel comfortable enough to speak up and say, ‘This is what I’m feeling, I’m sorry I’m playing like crap, I’m sorry, this is what I’m feeling, and being able to work together as a team to figure that out.’ So that has taken time.”

“It’s taken experiences for us to be able to be comfortable with each other,” she said. “Because you don’t want to feel that way. You want to be able to play your best and hold each other up and present strongly in a Grand Slam final after fighting so hard to get there. She really helped me through these moments.”

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Source: “AOL Sports”