NEW YORK — U.S. Open opponents Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko received right into a face-to-face argument on the Courtroom 11 sideline proper after Townsend gained their second-round match 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday.
Townsend, an American who’s ranked No. 1 in doubles, mentioned Ostapenko, a Latvian, who gained the 2017 French Open, instructed her she has “no class” and “no training.”
A reporter requested Townsend, who’s Black, whether or not she thought there have been racial undertones to these feedback.
“I didn’t take it in that manner, but in addition, , that has been a stigma in our neighborhood of being ‘not educated’ and all the issues, when it’s the furthest factor from the reality,” Townsend responded.
“So whether or not it had racial undertones or not, that’s one thing she will communicate on,” Townsend mentioned. “The one factor that I’m frightened about proper now’s persevering with to maneuver ahead by means of this event.”
Ostapenko later posted on social media about “what number of messages I acquired that I’m a racist.”
“I used to be NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of individuals on the earth. For me it would not matter the place you come from,” she wrote.
After the 2 gamers met on the internet for a post-match handshake, they stayed close to one another as an alternative of going their separate methods, as normally occurs. The Twenty fifth-seeded Ostapenko wagged a finger at Townsend as they spoke.
“It’s competitors,” Townsend mentioned. “Folks get upset once they lose.”
Once they lastly stopped speaking, Townsend went over to the stands and egged on the partisan crowd, waving her arm overhead and the noise from spectators solely grew louder.
She and Ostapenko have confronted one another earlier than in each singles and doubles.
“There’s by no means been any historical past. I don’t understand how she feels about me, however there’s no beef on my aspect,” Townsend mentioned. “She instructed me I’ve no training, no class, and to see what occurs if we play one another exterior of the U.S. I mentioned, ‘I’m excited. Carry it.’ I’ve by no means been the one to again down from something like that.”
Ostapenko went on social media to publish what she referred to as, “Only a small replace concerning the match.”
She wrote that Townsend was “disrespectful” for not saying “sorry” after being helped by a internet wire throughout a degree.
“There are some guidelines in tennis which a lot of the gamers comply with and it was (the) first time ever that this occurred to me on tour,” Ostapenko posted. “If she performs in her homeland, it does not imply that she will behave and do no matter she needs.”
Ostapenko additionally complained that Townsend started warming up earlier than the match up on the internet, as an alternative of again on the baseline. Whereas most gamers do start on the baseline, Townsend famous that she has began with volleying for years.
Ostapenko has gotten into kerfuffles with opponents throughout matches earlier than, together with in 2021 when she misplaced to Alja Tomljanovic at Wimbledon. Tomljanovic accused Ostapenko of mendacity about needing to go away the court docket for a medical timeout to handle an stomach subject.
Townsend not too long ago moved to the highest of the WTA doubles rankings. However that is her first time reaching the third spherical in singles at a Grand Slam event since 2023.
In singles, Townsend is No. 139. She is the lowest-ranked American girl to beat a previous Grand Slam champion in singles at a significant since Kristie Ahn defeated — guess who? — Ostapenko on the 2019 U.S. Open.
“The factor that I’m probably the most pleased with is that I let my racket speak. As a result of finally, I’m the one right here, sitting in entrance of you guys, shifting on to the subsequent spherical, getting the subsequent examine, shifting on, with the ability to nonetheless be right here and communicate to you guys, and that’s what’s a very powerful,” Townsend mentioned Wednesday. “She’s packed up and he or she’s gone.”
