Tension at the US Open: Townsend and Ostapenko, clash after the match

Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko Involved in Heated Discussion After US Open Match

After a heated encounter at the US Open, tennis players Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko were involved in a heated verbal exchange on court 11, just after Townsend secured the victory in the second round with a score of 7-5 and 6-1. According to Townsend, an American tennis player and number one in doubles, Ostapenko, from Latvia and winner of the French Open in 2017, made derogatory comments to her, accusing her of “having no class” and “having no education”. When asked by a reporter if he perceived a racist undertone in the comments, Townsend responded:

I didn’t interpret it that way, but also, you know, that’s been a stigma in our community of being ‘uneducated’ and all that stuff, when it’s the furthest thing from the truth. So, whether it had a racial background or not, that’s something she can talk about. The only thing I’m concerned about right now is moving forward in this tournament.

Taylor Townsend

Description: “She told me that I have no class, no education, and to see what happens when we leave the US,” said Taylor Townsend about what Jelena Ostapenko said to her after their second-round match on Wednesday. Subsequently, Ostapenko shared a post on social media about “how many messages I received saying I am racist.” In her post, Ostapenko wrote: “I have NEVER been racist in my life and I respect all the nations of the world. For me it doesn’t matter where you come from.” After the customary greeting on the net, the players remained close, instead of separating as is usual. Ostapenko, seeded number 25, pointed at Townsend with her finger while they were conversing. “It’s the competition,” Townsend commented. “People get upset when they lose.” Upon concluding the conversation, Townsend headed towards the stands, encouraging the fans, waving his arm above his head as the noise from the spectators increased. Townsend and Ostapenko had already faced each other in singles and doubles. “There has never been any history. I don’t know how she feels about me, but there’s no problem on my part,” Townsend said. “She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play outside the United States. I said, ‘I’m excited. Bring it on.’ I’ve never been one to back down from something like that.” Ostapenko also took to social media to post what she called “A little update on the match.” In her post, she wrote that Townsend was “disrespectful” for not saying “I’m sorry” after being helped by a network at one point. “There are some rules in tennis that most players follow and it was (the) first time this happened to me on the circuit,” Ostapenko posted. “If she plays on her home turf, it doesn’t mean she can behave and do whatever she wants.” Ostapenko also complained that Townsend started warming up at the net before the match, instead of on the baseline. Although most players start on the baseline, Townsend pointed out that she has been starting with volleys for years.

Ostapenko has had run-ins with opponents during matches in the past, including in 2021 when she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic at Wimbledon. Tomljanovic accused Ostapenko of lying about the need to leave the court for a medical timeout to treat an abdominal problem.

Townsend recently rose to the top of the WTA doubles ranking. However, this is the first time she has reached the third round in singles at a Grand Slam tournament since 2023. In singles, Townsend is ranked 139th. She is the lowest-ranked American woman to defeat a former Grand Slam champion in singles at a major tournament since Kristie Ahn defeated, guess who, Ostapenko at the 2019 US Open. “What I’m most proud of is that I let my racket do the talking. Because, ultimately, it’s me who is here, sitting in front of you, moving on to the next round, receiving the next check, advancing, still being able to be here and talk to you, and that’s the most important thing,” Townsend said on Wednesday. “She already packed and left.”