America's Donald Young captured the minds of tennis and pickleball fans alike when he accompanied Taylor Townsend to reach the finals of the mixed doubles competition at the US Open. He was once one of the most promising tennis stars in the United States. At 15, he had become the youngest ever year-end World No. 1 in the ITF Rankings.
Young had a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 38, achieved in February 2012 and a doubles ranking of world No. 43.
Young had reached the fourth round of the 2011 and 2015 US Open in the men's singles competition, before losing to Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka respectively.
The fairytale run continues for the Americans! Mixed Doubles finals here they come! pic.twitter.com/jX7kxZRQFM
— USTA (@usta) September 4, 2024
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Before the US Open mixed doubles final last month, Young had also played the 2017 French Open final in the men's doubles competition. Notably, he also played at the 2012 London Olympics but made a first-round exit after losing to Andreas Seppi.
Donald Young's Career
Young played his last matches at the US Open partnering Townsend in mixed doubles, where the pair reached the final.
As life would have it, Young announced his retirement before the US Open, announcing that the Slam at the Flushing Meadows would be his last. But he had post-retirement plans, which was pickleball.
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Since his Professional Pickleball Association Tour debut earlier this year, Young has played in 12 tournaments. He said at the US Open that he would focus on pickleball after he had hung up his tennis racquet.
Young said that playing pickleball was a chance he couldn't let go of and wanted a fresh beginning. "I’ve found pickleball now. I’ve been playing pro-pickleball. It was kind of a new start, something fresh. It was a good opportunity. I couldn’t pass it up," Young said while speaking at the US Open.
Young is the latest tennis star to take up pickleball professionally.