Tennis star Jelena Ostapenko has denied she was racist after reportedly telling Taylor Townsend she has “no class” and “no education” throughout a fiery trade on the US Open.
The pair clashed in conjunction with the courtroom at Flushing Meadows in New York following Towsend’s 7-5 6-1 victory within the second spherical of the match.
Ostapenko, from Latvia, was seen pointing her finger at her American rival through the row as loud boos may very well be heard from the group.
The confrontation was caught on digital camera however what the gamers have been saying couldn’t be heard. Nonetheless, one video of the trade exhibits Townsend saying “you can learn to take a loss better” earlier than strolling away.
She additionally accused her US rival, who’s ranked 139th on the planet, of not warming up within the anticipated method by practising volleys.
The 28-year-old added: “If she plays in her homeland, it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.”
Ostapenko was later met with allegations of racism after Townsend mentioned throughout her on-court interview that her opponent informed her she has “no class” and “no education” and to “see what happens when we get outside the US”.
Townsend added: “I’m looking forward to it. I beat her in Canada outside the US so let’s see what else she has to say.”
The American mentioned: “I’m very proud as a black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture.
“I ensure that I do every part that I can to be one of the best illustration potential each time that I step on the courtroom and even off the courtroom.
“So I can’t speak on how she felt about it. That’s something that you’re going to have to ask her. I didn’t take it in that way, but also, 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.”
Ostapenko later wrote in a publish on her Instagram story: “Wow how many messages I received that I am a racist. 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.
“There are some guidelines in tennis and sadly when the group is with you, you’ll be able to’t use it in disrespectful approach to your opponent.
“Unfortunately for me coming from such a small country I don’t have that huge support and a chance to play in homeland. I always loved to play in the US and US Open but this is the first time someone is approaching the match this disrespectful way.”
The confrontation got here a yr after Townsend beat Ostapenko 6-2, 6-1 in Canada in August 2024.
Townsend and doubles associate Katerina Siniakova additionally beat Ostapenko and Hsieh Su-wei in three units to win the Australian Open doubles title in January.
The American and Siniakova then misplaced to Ostapenko and Hsieh within the semi-finals of Wimbledon this previous June.
The post-match row between Townsend and Ostapenko on the US Open comes after Yulia Putintseva was concerned in a heated trade with Maria Sakkari on the Unhealthy Homburg Open in Germany in June.
Sakkari, from Greece, beat her Kazakhstani rival 7-5 7-6 (8-6) in a detailed encounter earlier than the pair shook arms and exchanged insults.
One of many feedback made by Sakkari to Putintseva which the microphone picked up was “when you shake hands with someone, look them in the eyes” adopted by “nobody likes you”.
