How do you honor a cherished tennis mentor when you’re officially playing for the first time at the world-renowned tennis complex named for that illustrious advisor in your life?
By winning, of course.
And that’s exactly what 16-year-old American Taylor Johnson did on Tuesday, when she upset No. 6 seed Amina Anshba of Russia, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, in the US Open junior girls’ competition being held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
That’s correct. The spunky Johnson’s been on the incomparable Billie Jean King’s radar since she was a young girl back in Prescott, Ariz. The initial meeting of the two was brokered by Johnson’s dad, Randy, who played semi-pro basketball in Europe and now is a BMW car salesman.
“Actually, I met Billie Jean King because I used to live in a very small town in Arizona, and her mother lived there,” said Johnson of her hometown, which boasted approximately 40,000 residents. “My dad ran into her in the gym, and then she came to the local courts the next day, and it kind of stuck.
“Billie is like my mentor from when I was 10, so I’ve known her for like six years now,” Johnson added. “Always when I’m here (in New York) I stay with her, although this time I’m staying at the hotel. She’s like my chief supporter and my mentor, and I really look up to her.”
When the Johnson family relocated to Redondo Beach, Calif., at the encouragement of the USTA Player Development program so she could work at times at their facility in Carson, Calif., King introduced her prized student to Rosie Casals, another former tennis standout with nine Grand Slam doubles titles as well as two US Open singles final showings to her credit. Casals quickly became Johnson’s primary coach because of their close proximity to each other.
“Rosie lives in California, so I was handed off to her because I couldn’t see BIllie enough,” Johnson said.
Johnson is truthful in admitting that the first time she encountered King she had no clue whom she was meeting. It was only later on that she became aware that King was an international legend who won 39 overall Grand Slam titles and is considered the driving force behind women’s tennis becoming a big-business enterprise.
“I was very young, but then I got some knowledge, and I really appreciate who she is, and it’s definitely a blessing,” Johnson said. “I used to get very nervous when they (King and Casals) would come and watch, but now it’s just that I know they’re always there for me. And I know, win or lose, as long as I try my best they’ll be happy.”
Initially, Johnson excelled at many different sports as a youngster, but tennis became the left-hander's calling for one very simple reason.
“I think I liked playing as an individual because I always got mad at team sports since I couldn’t control the whole thing,” she said, laughing. “I think that’s why I liked it because I had control.”
Johnson appears to be a quick learner and utilized a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 loss to Anshba in the first round of the Grade A Trofeo Bonfiglio tournament in Milan, Italy, in May to her advantage in securing the victory on Monday. In Milan, Johnson was up 2-0 in the third set and went on to lose.
At the US Open, Johnson fell behind 0-2 but viewed that reverse scenario as a good omen.
“I was actually up 2-0 in the third set last time, so when I got down 2-0 in the third set here, I was like, 'All right, it’s my turn. Let’s go,'” she said. “I didn’t plan to do that, but I stayed positive the whole time.”
Undoubtedly, some of that confidence comes from being tutored by someone of King’s stature. And you can be assured that Johnson is carefully hanging on every suggestion offered.
“Everything is so meaningful. I can learn from everything she says,” said Johnson, heading out to the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center.
