In the midst of playing the WTA 500 Guadalajara Open, days after winning the US Open, American tennis star Taylor Townsend had emergency surgery.
Townsend shared that this was not on her bingo card along with photos and videos of her experience. She did not provide details about the procedure.
We now know that she had an appendectomy in Mexico.
MORE: US Open doubles champ Taylor Townsend undergoes emergency surgery
What Townsend said
She had pain in her abdomen and believed she was suffering from food poisoning.
Townsend asked her physio to come to her hotel room to help her deal with the pain. The physio and a doctor examined her.
The doctor told her she had to go to the hospital. Tests at the hospital indicated she needed emergency surgery. Townsend admits she was alone, scared, and far from home.
US Open doubles champion Taylor Townsend says an emergency appendectomy was her reason for pulling out of the GDL Open in Mexico just days after her Grand Slam win. pic.twitter.com/TX3wcMUmKH
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 26, 2026
MORE: Jubilant Taylor Townsend, Katerina Siniakova make history by winning US Open
Further proof that tennis is the toughest professional sport
Townsend’s experience reinforces the fact that professional tennis is the toughest sport. Competing individually or as a doubles team for 11 months out of the year and traveling the world, it sounds glamorous but can be scary if the player is not feeling physically well.
We are happy that Townsend got the care she needed and is now home recovering with her son.
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