Fetty Wap inspired Donald Young to win at US Open

Photo by Derrel Johnson for Steed Media Services
Photo by Derrel Johnson for Steed Media Service

Donald Young, a 26-year-old Black tennis player, pulled off a major upset at the 2015 U.S. Open when he defeated No. 11 seed Giles Simon of France. Young lost the first two sets and was down 0-3 in the third set before winning the match, 2-g, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a three hour, 34-minute thriller.


“I love this court, I love [these] fans…I was almost ready to go home there,” Young said immediately after the match. “You guys were out here watching. I’m happy you guys stayed,” the Chicago native added.  He also mentioned a reason he may have Fetty Wap to thank.


“I had nothing to lose, he was kicking my butt, so I decided to start hitting out and playing my game a little more,” he said.

What does Young, who was the No. 1 ranked junior in the world when he was just 15, listen to that gets him ready to play right now?  “A lot of Fetty Wap. The Weeknd’s new album just dropped, so I’ve been listening to that quite a bit,” he said.


The Weeknd has a soothing effect on Young, but Fetty?

“Before the match riding over, I listened to The Weeknd.  Before the match, I listened to a lot of Fetty, he gets you going, so I love listening to those two guys and that’s mainly what I have on my playlist right now,” he said.

Rolling out had a chance to speak to Young about his favorite off-the-court fun. “Just hanging out, spending time with my friends. I don’t get to do it much. So I get a few weeks after the Open I’ll get to see some people, some people may fly in., so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Young, who currently resides in Atlanta, told rolling out what he does off the tennis courts while in the ATL. “I love to go to the movies, hang out, I go to a club every once in a while, visit some friends and enjoy myself,” he said.

Hopefully, he will be enjoying himself after a second round match today versus Aljaz Bedene of Great Britain. If he does, he may have to thank Fetty Wap again!

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