Taylor Townsend Reveals How Alexander Zverev’s Wish of Playing Alongside Her at US Open Got Fulfilled: “I Kind of Iced Him”

The US Open has released the teams for this year’s mixed doubles event. Novak Djokovic will play alongside Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud once again paired up (they were the runners-up last year). Naomi Osaka has teamed up with compatriot and retirement-bound Kei Nishikori.

Alexander Zverev, who last year played the revamped US Open mixed doubles with Belinda Bencic, wanted to join hands with Taylor Townsend, but she initially refused. Townsend is in Montreal for the Canadian Open, and at the press conference, she revealed how Zverev’s wish of teaming up with her got fulfilled.

He took me by surprise, actually. He asked me to play after the Gael (& Friends doubles event at the 2026 French Open). Originally I kind of iced him because I was planning on playing with Ben (Shelton). And then Alex went into the locker room and asked Ben, ‘Hey Ben, are you playing?’ And Ben was like, ‘No, I’m not playing.’ So he came back to me and said, ‘(Ben’s) not playing.’ So I said, ‘Alright, let’s play then!’

In last year’s event, Shelton and Townsend reached the quarterfinals but lost to compatriots Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison. Zverev and Bencic lost to Collins and Harrison in their opening round.

Except for the home Grand Slam, Townsend has won every Major doubles title. After the 2024 Wimbledon, she won last year’s Australian Open and this year’s French Open, all alongside Katerina Siniakova. At the US Open, she finished as the runner-up in 2022 (with Caty McNally) and 2025 (with Siniakova).

In the ongoing tournament, Townsend competed only in singles. She beat Marie Bouzkova in the second round to schedule her next match against Bencic.

Alexander Zverev reacts after losing his opening-round match at the Canadian Open

Alexander Zverev crashed out of the Canadian Open with a three-set defeat at the hands of Tallon Griekspoor. It was the first time this year Sascha lost in the opening round.

To be honest, I expected not to play well this week. I said it before the tournament started, and though I played very well over the last couple of months, I took a little time off. And I practiced then, but it’s tough competition. However, I did not expect to play this badly. 

Alexander Zverev said at the press conference

The win helped the Dutchman improve his head-to-head record to 3-9. Griekspoor has set up his third-round match against Matteo Arnaldi.

This was probably the worst match I played this season- I did not have too many of those, but this one stands as the worst. However, it’s fine – it’s a process. Tennis comes with ups and downs, and I’m very happy with the last couple of months. Now it’s about getting back to that form for Cincinnati and the US Open.

Alexander Zverev added

Zverev, however, has already played three finals. After losing the Madrid Open final to Jannik Sinner, the German reached the title clash of the French Open, where he beat Flavio Cobolli in five sets to end his Grand Slam title drought.

Zverev came close to completing the rare Channel Slam as he also reached the final of Wimbledon. But he couldn’t overcome defending champion Sinner.

Next is the Cincinnati Masters, which Zverev won in 2021 but lost in the semifinals last year. Following the seventh Masters 1000 of the season, Zverev will be chasing his career’s first US Open title. The 29-year-old suffered a shock third-round exit last year. But it was in this tournament back in 2020 that Zverev played his career’s first Grand Slam final and lost it to Dominic Thiem.

Also read: Andrea Petkovic Explains Why Alexandra Eala Reminds Her of Jannik Sinner: “She’s So Emotionally Stable”