The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) reportedly decided not to fund 16-year-old tennis-playing phenom Taylor Townsend’s (pictured) U.S. Open juniors trip because they reportedly think she is too heavy, according to Diets In Review.
Apparently, the awe-inspiring talents of the young teen — who is the No. 1 ranked girls junior and won the Australian Open juniors tournament — are not enough for the powers-that-be at the USTA. The tennis organization, whose general manager is Patrick McEnroe, has a fairly new player development program in place, and they claim that they are concerned with Townsend’s “health and long-term development” as a player.
Amid criticism for their decision, the organization shot back that they want to make it clear that while they are not denying their star player entry in to any of the tennis tournaments, they will NOT pay for any of her travels until she is deemed fit enough.
In a seemingly conflicting statement, the USTA said, “It has nothing to do with weight, nothing to do with body type,” McEnroe told ESPN. “It has to do with overall fitness, overall what her game is.”
In response, Townsend’s mother, Sheila, a former college tennis player, did what any parent would do who wants to keep fueling her child’s dream by swallowing the costs of her daughter’s trip to this year’s U.S. Open.
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article courtesy of Newsone.com
