Taylor Townsend, following her 7-5, 6-1 victory over Jelena Ostapenko in the U.S. Open second round on Wednesday, addressed a heated post-match exchange with composure and confidence. Describing the clash as pure competition, she insisted she had done nothing but hold her ground.
Townsend, ranked No. 1 in doubles and currently No. 139 in singles, said she entered the net confrontation expecting no apologies. “There’s never been any history. I don’t know how she feels about me, but there’s no beef on my side,” Townsend said. “She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the U.S. I said, ‘I’m excited. Bring it.’”
Pressed about possible racial undertones in Ostapenko’s comments, Townsend responded, “I didn’t take it in that way, but also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of being ‘not educated’ … when it’s the furthest thing from the truth.” She added that Ostapenko may speak to her intent, but she remains focused.
“The thing that I’m most proud of,” Townsend continued, “is that I let my racket talk.”
Ostapenko’s Perspective
Jeļena Ostapenko later took to Instagram to share her version of events, asserting that Townsend had acted disrespectfully. She cited two reasons: Townsend failed to apologize after winning a net-cord point at a decisive moment, and she warmed up at the net rather than at the baseline, contrary to tennis etiquette. “There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow,” Ostapenko wrote. “If she plays in her homeland it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.”
In a follow-up, Ostapenko addressed allegations of racism. “I was never racist in my life,” she wrote, emphasizing her respect for all nationalities. “For me it doesn’t matter where you come from.”