The final professional tennis match of Donald Young's career didn't culminate in a championship celebration on Thursday - for him and partner Taylor Townsend that is.

The American wild card tandem dropped the US Open Mixed Doubles Final 7-6, 7-5 to third-seeded Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani.

Young was disappointed with the result, of course, but he genuinely apperciated the opportunity to compete alongside a life-long friend in Flushing Meadows before hanging up his racquet for good.

"We came up a step short, but it’s a dream come true for me to play with Taylor. She’s like a little sister to me," said Young, who was seeking his first-ever Grand Slam title. "Growing up playing Monopoly with her, bullying her, and having fun, to play next to her in a Final at the US Open was great."

Townsend shared similar thoughts with an appreciative crowd. 

"Standing here with Donald means the world to me because he’s been in my life forever, and I was able to be close up to him when he was winning Junior Wimbledon, winning Junior Australian Open, and seeing someone doing that at such a high level, it inspired me," she explained. "I honestly don’t know if I’d be here today if it wasn’t for him and his family."

The 35-year-old UPA Tour Pro will return to professional pickleball in short order.

Young will play singles, men's doubles (with Travis Rettenmaier), and mixed doubles (with Ewa Radzikowska) at the PPA Tour's CIBC Atlanta Slam next week at Life Time Peachtree Corners in Peachtree Corners, GA.

Click here to purchase tickets to the tournament.