Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko’s second-round U.S. Open match ended in a heated exchange Wednesday, when the American tennis star said she was told she had “no class” and “no education.”
The altercation came shortly after Townsend, the women’s doubles world No. 1, defeated the 2017 French Open champion from Latvia, 7-5, 6-1.
As the two players approached the net for a customary post-match handshake, Ostapenko told Townsend she should have apologized for hitting a shot that clipped the top of the net but stayed in play.
The American defended herself, saying she didn’t have to apologize for it, as the 25th-seeded player wagged a finger at her opponent.
After a few tense seconds, Townsend walked away from Ostapenko, threw her racket onto the ground and faced the crowd, encouraging the fans to cheer for her.
When describing the altercation to ESPN, Townsend blamed Ostapenko for losing her temper after the match, which began with a 5-3 lead for the Latvian in the first set.
“People get upset when they lose, and you can’t. Some people say bad things,” she said. “She told me I have no class, I have no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S. — So I’m looking forward to it. I mean, I beat her in Canada, outside the U.S. I beat her in New York [in] the U.S., so let’s see what else she has to say.”
In a post shared on her Instagram story after the match, Ostapenko said her opponent “was very disrespectful” for not saying sorry for a “net ball.”
Ostapenko on Instagram pic.twitter.com/gZGERk9kq4
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 27, 2025
“There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was first time ever that this happened to me on tour. If she plays in her homeland, it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants,” she said.
Ostapenko later said in a follow-up post that she had received “many messages” accusing her of racist behavior.
“I was NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, I come from such a small country that I don’t have huge support and a chance to play in my homeland.”
When Townsend was asked by a reporter if she thought Ostapenko’s comments were racially charged, the American said she didn’t take it that way.
“But also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of being ‘not educated’ and all of the things, when it’s the furthest thing from the truth,” Townsend said. “So whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on.”
Townsend will now face No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia in the tournament’s third round Friday at 11 a.m.
With News Wire Services
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/08/28/taylor-townsend-ostapenko-us-open-exchange/
