Townsend: Proud after incident with Ostapenko at the US Open

Taylor Townsend Receives Support After Incident with Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open

American tennis player Taylor Townsend has received significant support from her colleagues following the altercation she had with Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open. Ostapenko, during their second-round match, accused Townsend of being “disrespectful” and “rude”. Townsend, number one in the world in doubles, shared her impressions after her victory in the first round of doubles alongside Katerina Siniakova. Meanwhile, Ostapenko, who lost her first-round doubles match, chose not to attend her press conference, citing “medical reasons”.

I spoke with a lot of people about it. Honestly, people have approached me, I haven’t provoked any kind of conversation, and everyone I’ve spoken to, who saw something, obviously said it was disrespectful. Even the gestures of his hand pointing at my face, as if I were a girl, and the things he was saying.

Taylor Townsend

Townsend emphasized that she felt proud of how she handled the situation, highlighting the importance of maintaining personal integrity and the support received.

Other prominent players, such as Naomi Osaka, also expressed their support for Townsend.

Obviously, it’s one of the worst things you can say to a black female tennis player in a predominantly white sport. And, of course, I know Taylor, and I know how hard she’s worked, and I know how intelligent she is, so it’s the furthest thing from a lack of education or anything like that.

Naomi Osaka

Osaka commented that the replays of the confrontation between Ostapenko and Townsend have been constantly seen. She also added that the situation was terrible. When asked if she perceived racial undertones in Ostapenko’s comments, Townsend responded that she did not interpret it that way, but acknowledged the stigmatization that exists in her community. Ostapenko, for her part, posted on social media that she had received many messages accusing her of being racist. The world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, stated that she spoke with Ostapenko after the match and tried to “calm her down”. Townsend also felt the support of the New York public, who attended his doubles match in large numbers. Townsend emphasized that he seeks to show others that “it’s okay to be oneself without apologies”.

It’s okay to defend yourself. It’s okay to stand up and call people out on their bullshit. I hate to say it, because sometimes, I feel like in society, especially people of color, we’re expected to be silent, or sometimes there are moments where we have to decide and be very strategic about when to speak.

Taylor Townsend