Published On 31 Aug 2025
Jelena Ostapenko has issued an apology for some of the words she used during a heated exchange with American Taylor Townsend at the US Open, which sparked widespread criticism. Ostapenko, from Latvia, pointed out that English is not her native language.
The controversy erupted after Townsend, who is of Black descent, defeated 2017 French Open winner Ostapenko with a score of 7-5, 6-1 in a challenging second-round match on Wednesday, leading to a verbal dispute post-match.
Townsend shared part of the confrontation in a post-match interview, where Ostapenko allegedly accused her of lacking “class” and “education”. In a subsequent press conference, Townsend hinted at possible “racial undertones” to the dispute, suggesting that Ostapenko would need to address these implications.
Ostapenko released a statement on Instagram, explaining that her anger was triggered by Townsend’s refusal to apologize for allegedly benefiting from a net cord (when a player’s shot grazes the net and remains in play). She also accused Townsend of being disrespectful
Typically, players apologize by raising their racket after winning such a point, in line with long-standing sports etiquette.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka got involved in the debate as well, stating that the choice of words by Ostapenko were particularly uncalled for when directed at a Black tennis player.
“I regret some of the things I said during my second-round singles match,” Ostapenko declared on Saturday.
“Since English isn’t my first language, when I said ‘education,’ I was referring to my understanding of tennis etiquette. But I acknowledge how my words could have offended many people beyond the sport.
“I’m grateful for the support as I continue to learn and grow as both a player and an individual.”
Townsend responded by saying she appreciated Ostapenko’s apology, though she emphasized the incident as a lesson in communication and respect between athletes.
“She expected me to react a certain way, and when I didn’t, it made her angry, leading to hurtful and confrontational remarks,” Townsend explained.
American tennis player Coco Gauff, who is familiar with Townsend, defended her character, stating that Townsend is one of the nicest individuals she knows.
Despite the controversy, Townsend is now in the fourth round, where she will face Barbora Krejcikova. The incident has however drawn considerable attention to both Townsend and the broader conversation around sportsmanship and communication in tennis.
“Many people are getting to know me after what happened,” Townsend noted. “While there are familiar faces, there are also those who didn’t know who I was before, and now they’re able to follow my journey,” she added with appreciation for this unintended visibility.
The controversy erupted after Townsend, who is of Black descent, defeated 2017 French Open winner Ostapenko with a score of 7-5, 6-1 in a challenging second-round match on Wednesday, leading to a verbal dispute post-match.
Townsend shared part of the confrontation in a post-match interview, where Ostapenko allegedly accused her of lacking “class” and “education”. In a subsequent press conference, Townsend hinted at possible “racial undertones” to the dispute, suggesting that Ostapenko would need to address these implications.
Ostapenko released a statement on Instagram, explaining that her anger was triggered by Townsend’s refusal to apologize for allegedly benefiting from a net cord (when a player’s shot grazes the net and remains in play). She also accused Townsend of being disrespectful
Typically, players apologize by raising their racket after winning such a point, in line with long-standing sports etiquette.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka got involved in the debate as well, stating that the choice of words by Ostapenko were particularly uncalled for when directed at a Black tennis player.
“I regret some of the things I said during my second-round singles match,” Ostapenko declared on Saturday.
“Since English isn’t my first language, when I said ‘education,’ I was referring to my understanding of tennis etiquette. But I acknowledge how my words could have offended many people beyond the sport.
“I’m grateful for the support as I continue to learn and grow as both a player and an individual.”
Townsend responded by saying she appreciated Ostapenko’s apology, though she emphasized the incident as a lesson in communication and respect between athletes.
“She expected me to react a certain way, and when I didn’t, it made her angry, leading to hurtful and confrontational remarks,” Townsend explained.
American tennis player Coco Gauff, who is familiar with Townsend, defended her character, stating that Townsend is one of the nicest individuals she knows.
Despite the controversy, Townsend is now in the fourth round, where she will face Barbora Krejcikova. The incident has however drawn considerable attention to both Townsend and the broader conversation around sportsmanship and communication in tennis.
“Many people are getting to know me after what happened,” Townsend noted. “While there are familiar faces, there are also those who didn’t know who I was before, and now they’re able to follow my journey,” she added with appreciation for this unintended visibility.
