Taylor Townsend, Top Seed in world Junior Tennis, too fat to be sponsored byUSTA

[tibbers]

Taylor Townsend, the 16-year-old number one junior tennis player in the world, has been told to lose weight by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA).

The Chicago native is the reigning junior Australian Open singles champion, the junior Wimbledon doubles champion, and today she won two matches at the U.S. Open's junior tournament.

However, despite the fact she is part of the USTA player development program, they refused to fund Taylor's flight to to New York to compete in the U.S. Open, and said they wouldn't finance any other tournament appearances until she lost weight and got into better shape.

Patrick McEnroe, the general manager of the USTA's player development program told the Wall Street Journal: 'Our concern is her long-term health, number one, and her long-term development as a player.

'We have one goal in mind: For her to be playing in [Arthur Ashe Stadium] in the main draw and competing for major titles when it's time. That's how we make every decision, based on that.'

Her mother, Shelia, who paid her daughter's travel expenses to the U.S. Open herself, said she was confused by the USTA's decision, because after all, her daughter 'is No. 1, not just in the United States, but in the world.'

'It all kind of came as a shock to us because Taylor has consistently done quite well,' she said.

However the USTA's decision seems to illustrate that its priorities lie in the importance of developing long-term fitness, successful results and longevity, rather than purely competitive results, in the hope of boosting the current decline of American tennis.

'You have to be fit, but you don't have to look ripped'

Earlier this summer, Miss Townsend lost in the first round of qualifying for a professional event in Vancouver, and her coaches asked her to withdraw from the USTA Girls' National Championships in San Diego, return to the Florida-based academy and embark on a more strenuous fitness program.

However, winning competitive tennis matches does not necessarily directly correlate to having a svelte figure.

In 2007, Serena Williams won the Australian Open singles title despite being in what has been described as 'the worst shape of her career'.

Also, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 175lbs, former U.S. tennis star Lindsay Davenport ranked among the largest players on the women's tour, and still became number one.

Former number one on the men's side, Mats Wilander said: 'You have to be fit underneath, I don't think you necessarily have to look ripped.'

While Miss Townsend, a polite and professional teenager who said she is dutifully doing 'everything they ask' her to do, was asked to represent the U.S. in a junior Federation Cup event in Spain later this month, her future schedule will remain up to the USTA.

Mr McEnroe said: 'We'll assess when this tournament is over.'

'I've gotten a lot of great opportunities, great fitness, great coaching,' MIss Townsend said of the USTA. 'I'm being professional about everything.'

http://jezebel.com/taylor-townsend/

http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/news27071.html

http://thegrio.com/2012/09/10/serena-williams-stands-up-for-taylor-townsend-everyone-deserves-to-play/

http://manolobig.com/2012/09/09/usta-backtracks/

[Guest AbeVanHelsing]

Oh yeah, she's clearly out of shape, that's why she's the topped ranked player in her age group in the fucking world  :  This is total bullshit, I'd investigate defecting to another country that wouldn't treat its top ranked player like some fat couch potato.

Anyway, she's got great thighs  :thumbsup:

[Guest Atlya]

Yeah sure, anyone involved in sports is not a total retard...

Just don't read THIS particular thread though... :/

<<< Facepalm

[namad]

she might not be in amazing shape to win an Olympic distance running medal, but tennis is a sport where power matters! heavier players who are in good shape can easily outperform someone leaner!

[Guest TheUnknown]

she might not be in amazing shape to win an Olympic distance running medal, but tennis is a sport where power matters! heavier players who are in good shape can easily outperform someone leaner!

Seriously! How many times have we seen a Williams sister sucking wind pretty hard.....while completely obliterating any poor twig thrown in front of them?

[Guest Atlya]

Seriously! How many times have we seen a Williams sister sucking wind pretty hard.....while completely obliterating any poor twig thrown in front of them?

But she is FAT! It's bad for her health (future or whatever)! She needs to be a better rolemodel (that is, thin).

[TheDemolitionMan]

I'd tell her to pull a Serena and work out in some fashion or another so she'll look jacked. LOL Both sides win and she can stick it you McEnroe. 

[Mr.Lover of fat ladies]

Fuck McEnroe, That girl looks awesome as she is!

[David]

Totally awesome...and a winner!

[jeremy-heart]

She looks even fatter if anything!

[Guest Atlya]

Totally awesome...and a winner!

You go, girl!

[sgusarm]

[Guest high]

She should get off the couch and exercise.  ???

[howarddonaldson]

She's in the BNP Paribas and looking curvy.  (She's over 18)

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Taylor+Townsend+BNP+Paribas+Open+Day+4+CVQ1Oblt9CMl.jpg

[Guest shegotfat]

Is touching yourself over a 17-year-old a crime?

[Guest bouncybelly]

that gut :thumbsup:

[Watashi]

While her figure is nice to look at, it is symbolic of the weaknesses of women's tennis at the moment. There's no grace, skill or finesse in the game, it's just brute force with little differential between the type of game the top players play. She can afford to have that belly because of that, so I guess it isn't a complete negative  ;D

[Guest Pantalaimon]

While her figure is nice to look at, it is symbolic of the weaknesses of women's tennis at the moment. There's no grace, skill or finesse in the game, it's just brute force with little differential between the type of game the top players play. She can afford to have that belly because of that, so I guess it isn't a complete negative  ;D

Two words, Simona Halep.

[Watashi]

Two words, Simona Halep.

Outlier. While saying that there is no players with grace was hyperbole, it is rare to see and hardly effective, as she's 1-3 and 0-5 against Serena and Sharapova respectively as well, both who play games based on power.

[lovecurvefat]

I don't know what townsends her but with that body you're not gonna go too far in sports. But pretty far in other stuffs 

[Guest Pantalaimon]

Outlier. While saying that there is no players with grace was hyperbole, it is rare to see and hardly effective, as she's 1-3 and 0-5 against Serena and Sharapova respectively as well, both who play games based on power.

She is the last player to beat Serena and 6-2 6-0 at that, she is also playing Serena in the semi-finals tomorrow wo lets see what happens

Halep is one of the most effective players against big hitters.

[Watashi]

She is the last player to beat Serena and 6-2 6-0 at that, she is also playing Serena in the semi-finals tomorrow wo lets see what happens

Halep is one of the most effective players against big hitters.

Well I sure hope she wins as she's lightyears ahead of the rest of the tour in terms of entertainment.

[frecklefactor]

“Just when I thought that the thickest a tennis player can get is Serena Williams, Taylor pops up.”

I wouldn’t really expect a tennis player no less, maybe a golfer (for example Brittany Lincicome) or a volleyball player, to look like this.

I don’t mean to bump this thread, but here are a number of recent picture finds of Taylor. All of the pics are from 2014-2016.

[riptoryx]

That is quite the pudgy little belly on her!

[Dr. Feeder]

What bullshit. She's not that big. There are no extra health risks at that size, especially at her level of fitness! USTA is more interested in the image than the sport.