Taylor Townsend: Missing son's fifth birthday to win Indian Wells a sacrifice that was "worth it"

This birthday present is priceless.

An emotional Taylor Townsend stole the show after her and Katerina Siniakova's victory in the women's doubles final at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, dedicating the win to her 5-year-old son on his birthday.

Before Siniakova and Townsend took the court to beat Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6(4), 6-4— their first win in three attempts against the Kazakh-Serb pair this year—the American admitted to being overcome by emotions as she reflected on the five-year anniversary of "the day her life changed," and the fact that she wouldn't be present for little Adyn's celebration.

"I went to Kat, and I was like, 'I need a hug.' I was crying in the locker room because I was sad that I was missing my son's birthday. And she was, like, 'OK, we do this for AJ,'" Townsend said after the triumph, her third career WTA 1000 title and second with Siniakova.

Watch: Taylor Townsend, Chris Eubanks exchange hilarious jabs at the TC Desk

The 29-year-old has had a strong first quarter of 2026 both on the court and on the mic, which included a run to first WTA singles final in Austin two weeks ago where she spoke openly and frankly about "doing things [her] way."

That trend continued after her and Siniakova's crowning moment in Tennis Paradise.

"It was a sacrifice to be here today," Townsend continued. "But I'm chasing my dreams, and I'm really happy to be able to come out with a win, to able to call him and and show him the trophy and tell him that it was worth it for me not to not be there. But that's part of the sacrifice of being a mother and a parent."

In the pair's post-championship press conference, Townsend joked that her sadness faded after FaceTiming her son "in the thick of his party" and seeing him "amped up on cake."

"I'm probably glad I'm not there, because he's a hyper five-year-old amped up on sugar. He's having fun," she smiled. But the sentiment of her victory speech remained.

"He was able to watch that moment, which is super special, and I'm happy that my family was able to send that to me, because those are the moments that make it worth it, for him to be able to see it and for him to be able to watch in real time of me shouting him out," she said.