Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko’s second-round U.S. Open match led to a heated trade Wednesday, when the American tennis star stated she was informed she had “no class” and “no education.”
The altercation got here shortly after Townsend, the ladies’s doubles world No. 1, defeated the 2017 French Open champion from Latvia, 7-5, 6-1.
As the 2 gamers approached the online for a customary post-match handshake, Ostapenko informed Townsend she ought to have apologized for hitting a shot that clipped the highest of the online however stayed in play.
The American defended herself, saying she didn’t must apologize for it, because the Twenty fifth-seeded participant wagged a finger at her opponent.
After a couple of tense seconds, Townsend walked away from Ostapenko, threw her racket onto the bottom and confronted the group, encouraging the followers to cheer for her.
When describing the altercation to ESPN, Townsend blamed Ostapenko for dropping her mood after the match, which started with a 5-3 lead for the Latvian within the first set.
“People get upset when they lose, and you can’t. Some people say bad things,” she stated. “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 publish shared on her Instagram story after the match, Ostapenko stated her opponent “was very disrespectful” for not saying sorry for a “net ball.”
Ostapenko on Instagram pic.twitter.com/gZGERk9kq4
“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 stated.
Ostapenko later stated in a follow-up publish that she had obtained “many messages” accusing her of racist conduct.
“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 requested by a reporter if she thought Ostapenko’s feedback have been racially charged, the American stated she didn’t take it that means.
“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 stated. “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 within the event’s third spherical Friday at 11 a.m.
