Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend recently found themselves at the center of controversy during their second-round match at the US Open in Flushing Meadows. Ostapenko made her feelings clear when Townsend failed to apologise for a net cord that broke the rhythm of play. This resulted in an on-field challenge match between the two players. This recent situation blew up in minutes, prompting allegations of racism and bringing international scrutiny on the sport of tennis.
Townsend played a special role in ostracizing Linz. Following the match, Ostapenko leveled scathing charges at Townsend, calling her “not educated” and “not classy.” These comments set off a firestorm of criticism, with detractors saying the comments had racist undertones. Naomi Osaka weighed in, stating that such remarks are “one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player in a majority white sport.” The aftermath of this incident has raised important conversations about race, manners and sportsmanship in the sport of tennis.
With all that commotion going on, Ostapenko made the decision to not talk to the media that day, later released a statement on social media about what happened. She denied any intent of racism and clarified her comments, saying, “English is not my native language so when I said education, I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette, but I understand how the words I used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court.”
Just a few days after the incident, after winning a doubles match, Townsend had this to say. She disclosed that she had not yet heard from Ostapenko personally, but she appreciated her public apology. “That’s nice that she did that, that she apologised. That’s fine. That’s cool. At the end of the day, I think that it’s a learning lesson for her,” Townsend remarked. She emphasized the importance of representation in sports and expressed gratitude for the support she received during this challenging time. “I’m really just proud that I kept the main thing the main thing,” she added.
That tension around Ostapenko’s remarks was something that motivated Townsend, though. She drew on the furore as motivation to power past fifth seed Mirra Andreeva 6-0 6-3 in her best win at a major.
In light of her incendiary remarks, Ostapenko issued a formal apology, stating, “I wanted to apologise for some of the things I said during my second-round singles match.” She further acknowledged the incident as a learning experience, saying, “I appreciate the support as I continue to learn and grow as a person and a tennis player. Goodbye New York and I look forward to being back next year.”
