Taylor Townsend debuts at doubles world No. 1 after winning Washington title

With her usual partner, previous world No. 1 Katerina Siniakova, playing singles in Prague, Townsend teamed with China's Zhang Shuai for the first time in Washington and ran the table with four wins in the U.S. capital. The second seeds dropped just one set on the week, when they beat Venus Williams and Hailey Baptiste in a match tiebreak in the second round, and clinched the title with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Americans Caroline Dolehide and Sofia Kenin on Sunday.

Townsend is also the first mom to reach doubles No. 1. She returned to the WTA Tour in April 2022 after giving birth to her son, Adyn Aubrey, the previous year. Since returning, she has reached the women's doubles quarterfinals or better at the majors nine times, having previously advanced to that stage just twice.

"Thank you Adyn for giving me a new purpose!" the American wrote in an Instagram post celebrating her rise to No. 1.