Taylor Townsend, 15, to turn pro this year

Fifteen-year-old American Taylor Townsend is planning on turning pro this year. Currently ranked No. 2 in the ITF juniors, Townsend is playing the USTA International Spring Championships in Carson, California, then will play the Easter Bowl, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open juniors before going pro. Townsend is the reigning Australian Open girls’ champion.

"This was just all part of the plan,” said Townsend of her reason for playing the Spring Championships and Easter Bowl back-to-back. “They are in States and I can get the ITF points I need to be No. 1. Plus, these are my last few junior tournaments so I want to go out and enjoy it."

Townsend trains at USTA headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., and has been working out near her home at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Ga. She is also planning on playing some USTA Pro Circuit events.