Editor’s Notes • It’s amazing how time flies.
At the 2005 US Open we saw Donald Young, Jr., affectionately known as “DY” for the first time. Donald won Kalamazoo and got a wildcard for the US Open. We took an overnight flight and were in NYC.
Now we’re in 2024, nearly two decades later, and DY is back to say goodbye. And what a beautiful way to say goodbye. He’s playing in the US Open, the tournament he dreamed of as a kid, playing alongside his lifelong friend, former training partner and fellow all-court player Taylor Townsend.
Taylor, who was coached for a time by Donald Young, Sr., DY’s father, and before that by his mother Ilona, has had a great season, showing that tennis moms can be successful. Donald Young’s parents converted both Donald and Taylor from right-handed to left-handed, like Rafa Nadal.
We wish we could be there. We know how special it is. Donald has had some great wins. We remember Stan Wawrinka’s win like it was yesterday. He played in Davis Cup and the Olympics. He had a lot of great matches that he lost by one or two shots. And often the player who beat him went on to win the tournament.
Donald has had a successful career as a professional pickleball player. (LJ)
