TAYLOR TOWNSEND UNDERWENT EMERGENCY APPENDIX SURGERY IN MEXICO

Taylor Townsend has revealed she underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis after falling ill during the Guadalajara Open. Speaking on Good Morning America, the American said she woke at around 2.30am feeling as though she was "getting stabbed" in her stomach and initially believed she had food poisoning. She said she asked a physio to check on her ahead of a scheduled 5pm match, only for an ultrasound to reveal an inflamed appendix requiring immediate surgery. Townsend said she was alone at the time and recalled asking to be sent home rather than operated on in Mexico, while thinking of her son. The surgery went ahead and was successful.

The illness came just days after Townsend won the US Open doubles title alongside Katerina Siniakova on 11 September. She had continued competing afterwards, beating Tatjana Maria in her opening-round match at the Guadalajara Open on 14 September. Townsend was due to face top seed Marta Kostyuk the following Wednesday but withdrew because of the medical emergency. She first disclosed the surgery on Instagram at the time, without giving the specific diagnosis, and shared photographs of herself taken after the operation.

Townsend has since given further detail on the circumstances in her broadcast interview, having previously only confirmed that she required emergency surgery. She used the appearance to reassure fans that she had come through the procedure safely. No date has been given for when she is expected to return to competition following the appendectomy.