By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 28, 2025Photo credit score: Julian Finney/Getty
NEW YORK—Speak is affordable, however trash discuss might be expensive.
Requested her response to the heated change between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend on the conclusion of their US Open match Wednesday evening, Naomi Osaka didn’t pull punches.
Two-time US Open champion Osaka known as Ostapenko’s feedback “one of many worst issues you possibly can say to a black tennis participant.”
In case you missed it, doubles world No. 1 Townsend upset the Twenty fifth-seeded Ostapenko, 7-5, 6-1 to succeed in the US Open third spherical.
Within the check post-match handshake, Ostapenko, who was upset her opponent didn’t apologize for a net-cord shot, could possibly be heard blasting Townsend saying “you don’t have any schooling…wait till we’re exterior the U.S.”
Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko acquired in a heated interplay after their second spherical match on the US Open.
Townsend is on to the third spherical. pic.twitter.com/cOIYzoyfmG
— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2025
Taylor Townsend recounted her interplay with No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko after their second spherical match on the US Open.
Townsend superior to the third spherical after her upset win 👏 pic.twitter.com/jFvQHE8iTw
— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2025
Osaka powered previous Hailey Baptiste, 6-3, 6-1 on Louis Armstrong Stadium to advance to the US Open third spherical. In her post-match presser, Osaka was requested her response to Ostapenko’s phrases.
“I imply, it’s actually troublesome to say. I believe clearly it’s one of many worst issues you possibly can say to a Black tennis participant in a majority White sport,” Osaka stated. “And granted, I do know Taylor and I understand how laborious she’s labored and I understand how good she is, so she’s the furthest factor from uneducated or something like that.
“However should you’re like genuinely asking me concerning the historical past of Ostapenko, I don’t suppose that’s the craziest factor she’s stated. I’m going to be trustworthy.”
Certainly, Ostapenko clearly didn’t attend the Stefan Edberg faculty of sportsmanship. The truth is, she’s identified for the famed “drive by” handshake after some losses and for calling out opponents generally on court docket.
Ostapenko and Ajla Tomljanovic famously went at it on the 2021 Wimbledon when the Aussie accused the Latvian of faking an harm to take a medical timeout whereas trailing 4-0 within the third set.
“You already know she’s mendacity,” Tomljanovic instructed the chair umpire at Wimbledon.
“When you suppose I’m faking it, you possibly can discuss with the physio,” Ostapenko stated. “Your habits is horrible. You could have zero respect… You’re the worst participant on tour.”
In one other Wimbledon match, Ostapenko as soon as known as out each Camila Giorgi and her father, Sergio Giorgi, claiming the elder Giorgi was shouting and coughing throughout her serve movement in an effort to distract her.
In fact, Osaka herself isn’t any stranger to post-match controversy. After bowing to 18-year-old Canadian wild card Vicky Mboko within the Montreal ultimate earlier this month, Osaka uncared for to congratulate {the teenager} in her temporary runner-up speech that spanned lower than 20 seconds. To her credit score, Osaka did apologize to Mboko, who views Osaka as her tennis hero, the subsequent day.
At this time, Osaka ripped Ostapenko’s post-match remark to Townsend as “horrible.”
“I believe it’s in poor health timing and the worst individual you could possibly have ever stated it to. And I don’t know if she is aware of the historical past of it in America,” Osaka stated. “However I do know she’s by no means going to say that ever once more in herlife. However, yeah, I imply, it was simply horrible. Like, that’s simply actually unhealthy.”
When Townsend was requested if she felt Ostapenko’s “no schooling” taunt was delivered with racial overtones in her presser, the American replied “I can’t communicate on what her intention have been, I can solely communicate on how I dealt with the scenario.”
Townsend went on to say she refuses to let Ostapenko, or any opponent, outline her character.
“Saying I’ve no schooling and no class, I don’t actually take that personally, as a result of I do know that it’s so removed from the reality and so removed from something,” Townsend stated. “Once more, if I permit what otherpeople must say about me have an effect on me in that method, then they win. So in the end, no.
“I stood up for myself, and I stored in my thoughts in that second how I needed to painting myself and the way I needed to point out up, and if my son have been to see this interplay, how would he view it? I believe he could be pleased with the way in which that I dealt with the scenario.
“I’m very robust. I’m very proud as a Black girl being out right here representing myself and representing us and our tradition. I guarantee that I do every thing that I can to be the very best illustration attainable each time that I step on the court docket and even off the court docket.”
Ostapenko refutes her “no schooling” taunt was stated with racial animosity and stated her anger and frustration was fueled by Townsend declining to apologize for a web wire and for “very disrespectful” habits on court docket.
