American Taylor Townsend engaged in a heated alternate with Jelena Ostapenko after her 7-5, 6-1 victory over the Latvian within the second spherical of the US Open on Tuesday.
As the 2 gamers met on the internet to shake arms, Ostapenko mentioned one thing that Townsend clearly took subject with. The dialog escalated as the 2 gamers argued close to Ostapenko’s chair, earlier than Townsend walked away to shake the umpire’s hand earlier than pumping up the gang on Courtroom 11.
“It is competitors, individuals get upset once they lose,” Townsend instructed ESPN after the match. “Some individuals haven’t any class, I’ve no training and to see what occurs once we get outdoors of the U.S.”
Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, was seeded twenty fifth at Flushing Meadows this 12 months. She took to social media after her match to debate the confrontation.
“At present after the match I instructed my opponent that she was very disrespectful as she had a internet ball in a really deciding second and did not make an apology, however her reply was that she would not must make an apology in any respect,” Ostapenko posted. “There are some guidelines in tennis which a lot of the gamers comply with and it was the primary time ever that this occurred to me on tour. If she performs in her homeland it does not imply that she will be able to behave and do no matter she desires.”
Townsend, who’s the top-ranked doubles participant on this planet however ranked simply No. 139 on this planet in singles, was requested in her post-match press convention if she thought there have been racial undertones to Ostapenko’s feedback throughout their confrontation.
“No. I can not converse on what her intentions have been,” Townsend mentioned. “I can solely converse on how I dealt with the scenario. And the way I dealt with it’s somebody who’s upset in regards to the final result that occurred. You misplaced, and also you’re upset about that.
“Saying I’ve no training, no class… I do not actually take that personally as a result of I do know that it is so removed from the reality. If I permit what different individuals must say about me have an effect on me in that manner, then they win. So finally, no. I stood up for myself and I stored it in my thoughts in that second how I needed to painting myself and the way I needed to indicate up.
“The factor that I am most pleased with is that I let my racket speak. As a result of finally, I am the one transferring on to the following spherical, getting the following test. Transferring on, having the ability to nonetheless be right here. That is what’s an important. She’s packed up and he or she’s gone. I am right here.”
There’s vital historical past between the 2 on the courtroom. That features a 6-2, 6-1 win by Townsend in Canada in August 2024, which she referenced within the ESPN interview, in addition to a doubles victory over Ostapenko and her associate, Lyudmyla Kichenok, earlier that summer season.
Townsend and doubles associate Katerina Siniakova then misplaced to Ostapenko and Su-Wei Hsie within the semifinals of Wimbledon this previous June. Townsend did beat Ostapenko and her associate within the first spherical of blended doubles on the occasion. Townsend and Siniakova additionally beat Ostapenko and Hsieh in three units to win the Australian Open doubles title on the Australian Open in January.
Ostapenko took to social media once more on Wednesday following Townsend’s press convention.
“Wow what number of messages I acquired that I’m a racist. I used to be NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of individuals on this planet, for me it would not matter the place you come from,” she posted. “There are some guidelines in tennis, and sadly, when the gang is with you, you possibly can’t use them in a disrespectful technique to your opponent. Sadly for me, coming from such a small nation, I haven’t got that vast assist and an opportunity to play in my homeland. I all the time liked to play within the U.S. and the U.S. Open, however that is the primary time somebody is approaching the match this disrespectful manner.”
Tuesday marked Townsend’s first victory in a serious over a High 25 opponent since beating Nineteenth-seeded Haddad Maia within the 2023 U.S. Open. She’s going to face fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva within the third spherical on Friday.
Townsend and Ostapenko nonetheless have a possible assembly within the ladies’s doubles draw as effectively, though it must come within the remaining. Townsend and Siniakova are the No. 1 seed, whereas Ostapenko and associate Barbora Krejcikva are unseeded on the opposite aspect of the draw.
–Area Stage Media/Reuters
