Donald Young (tennis) facts for kids
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Young in 2023
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| Full name | Donald Oliver Young Jr. |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Residence | Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| Born | July 23, 1989 Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Turned pro | 2004 |
| Retired | 2024 |
| Plays | Left-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $4,694,661 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 124–190 (39.49%) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 38 (February 27, 2012) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2014) |
| French Open | 3R (2014) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2016, 2017) |
| US Open | 4R (2011, 2015) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 1R (2012) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 45–76 (37.19%) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 43 (August 14, 2017) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2017) |
| French Open | F (2017) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2014) |
| US Open | 3R (2015) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| US Open | F (2024) |
Donald Oliver Young Jr. (born July 23, 1989) is an American athlete who was a professional tennis player and now plays professional pickleball. During his tennis career, he was once ranked No. 38 in the world for singles.
As a young player, Young was a superstar. He was ranked the No. 1 junior player in the world in 2005. He reached the fourth round of the US Open twice, which was his best result in a major singles tournament. In doubles, he made it to the final of the 2017 French Open. He also reached the mixed doubles final at the 2024 US Open with his partner Taylor Townsend.
Contents
Early Life and Junior Success
Donald Young was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Donald Sr. and Illona, were both tennis coaches. They started teaching him how to play tennis when he was only three years old.
Young was a tennis prodigy, meaning he had amazing talent at a very young age.
- In 2003, he won the famous Orange Bowl tournament for players 16 and under.
- In 2005, at just 15 years old, he won the Australian Open Junior Championships. This made him the youngest player ever and the first African-American male to be ranked No. 1 in the world as a junior.
- He also won the Wimbledon junior title in 2007.
Because of his incredible success as a junior, many people had high hopes for his professional career.
Professional Tennis Career
Young turned professional in 2004, when he was just 15. He began playing on the ATP Tour, which is the top level of men's professional tennis.
Breaking Through
In 2007, Young started to climb the professional rankings. He won his first match at an ATP Tour event in New Haven. Later that year, he won his first match at a Grand Slam tournament by reaching the third round of the US Open. By the end of the year, he was ranked in the top 100 players in the world.
In 2008, he defeated former world No. 2 player Tommy Haas. He also played a thrilling five-set match against American star James Blake at the US Open.
Career Highlights
One of Young's biggest wins came in 2011 at the Indian Wells tournament. He defeated Andy Murray, who was ranked No. 4 in the world at the time. This was a huge upset victory.
Later that year, he had his best run at the US Open, reaching the fourth round. He won an exciting five-set match against Stan Wawrinka along the way. He reached the fourth round of the US Open again in 2015, winning three comeback matches in a row.
In 2012, Young had the honor of representing the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Doubles and Later Career
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Young also had great success in doubles, where two players team up. In 2017, he and his partner Santiago González made it all the way to the final of the French Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
After 2018, Young played less on the main ATP Tour. His final professional tennis match was at the 2024 US Open. He played mixed doubles with Taylor Townsend, and they had an amazing run to the final.
Life After Tennis
After retiring from tennis in 2024, Young began a new career as a professional pickleball player. He now competes on the PPA Tour and in Major League Pickleball.
Significant Finals
Grand Slam Tournaments
Doubles: 1 (1 runner-up)
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2017 | French Open | Clay |  Santiago González |
 Ryan Harrison Michael Venus |
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–4), 3–6 |
Mixed doubles: 1 (1 runner-up)
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2024 | US Open | Hard | Taylor Townsend |
 Sara Errani Andrea Vavassori |
6–7(0–7), 5–7 |
ATP Tour Finals
Singles: 2 (2 runner-ups)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Oct 2011 | Thailand Open, Thailand | ATP 250 | Hard (i) |  Andy Murray |
2–6, 0–6 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Feb 2015 | Delray Beach Open, United States | ATP 250 | Hard |  Ivo Karlović |
3–6, 3–6 |
Wins Over Top 10 Players
| # | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | DYR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | |||||||
| 1. | Andy Murray |
5 | Indian Wells Open, United States | Hard | 2R | 7–6(7–4), 6–3 | 143 |
| 2. |  Gaël Monfils |
9 | Thailand Open, Thailand | Hard (i) | SF | 4–6, 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–5) | 55 |
| 2015 | |||||||
| 3. |  Tomáš Berdych |
6 | Canadian Open, Canada | Hard | 2R | 7–6(7–5), 6–3 | 79 |
See also
In Spanish: Donald Young para niños
