Forever Young: Pickleball Pro Donald Young on a Memorable Run at the U.S. Open

Donald Young, a name synonymous with American tennis over the last 10-15 years and at one time the top-ranked junior tennis player in the world at the age of 16, is now carving out a dual legacy as a professional in both tennis and pickleball.

Young, who recently signed with Proton and just last month was picked up by the Florida Smash of Major League Pickleball, is competing in his final U.S. Open in mixed doubles with partner Taylor Townsend.

While his last competitive singles tennis match was nearly a year ago and his last doubles match took place over 14 months ago, it's clear Young still has some tennis left in him.

DY could go out with a bang

Townsend – fellow Chicagoan and recent Wimbledon women’s doubles champion – and Young have been a force of nature in New York.

As wild-card entrants, they've stormed through their early matches, winning in straight sets before squeaking out a 10-8 match tiebreaker victory against Harri Heliövaara and Anna Danilina in the quarters.

The crowd's energy inside the U.S. Open’s Grandstand on Labor Day was electric, with reactions that rivaled the loudest applause of the tournament.

"Holy sh*t," Townsend exclaimed after advancing to the semis, momentarily forgetting her surroundings amidst the intensity. "The energy – it really pushed us through ... you guys are lit." She added, "These are the moments we live for, 10-8 in the third, alongside Donald. It’s very nostalgic for me. I’m very happy to be on the same side as him, and that forehand not coming at my head."

Pickleball is helping him with tennis

It was indeed a signature Young forehand that clinched their spot in the semifinals, where they’ll face the formidable Rohan Bopanna and Aldila Sutjiadi.

But it wasn’t just the power shots that impressed – it was a crafty, delicate slice at 7-7, keeping the point alive with a touch that would make any pickleball player proud. The shot, reminiscent of a classic pickleball dink, showcased Young’s evolving skill set.

Young, who only started playing pickleball seriously last August, is now a full-time contender in the rapidly growing sport. He’s already chalked up victories against top-ranked players like Connor Garnett and Jay Devilliers, even teaming with Devilliers to take on star Tyson McGuffin and fellow tennis-turned-pickleball pro Jack Sock.

Yet, despite his pickleball prowess and aspirations – including hopes for a gold medal and even a coveted triple crown – it seems Young’s tennis journey isn't over just yet.

"We’ll get to the end when we get to the end, but we’re still playing," Young said with a grin after his latest victory. "It’s great to play here one more time."

A long career of ups and downs

Young reached this stage of the mixed doubles tournament a decade ago back when he was still chasing a Top 10 singles ranking. While he didn’t quite reach those heights, he did break into the Top 40 in 2012 and twice made it to the fourth round of the Open.

Despite being 0-4 in tour-level finals – two in singles and two in doubles – Young isn’t ready to close the chapter on his tennis career just yet.

Reflecting on Monday’s match, Young admitted, "My hands were shaking pretty hard there at the end, but I had a great partner on my side. I haven’t been in these situations in a long time."

With his dual focus on both tennis and pickleball, Young’s unique athletic journey is far from over. As for how far he and Townsend can go?

"Is that a question?" Townsend shot back confidently. "Come on."