A new angle of the astonishing US Open argument between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend that sparked a racism storm has emerged on social media.
It shows Townsend’s gracious response to the furious Latvian, who told her black opponent she has ‘no education and no class’ during the unsavory scenes in New York.
‘Whatever you want to say but you can learn how to take a loss better,’ Townsend says in footage captured by a fan. ‘Thank you so much. Great job. Great play.’
Townsend then walked away from Ostapenko eventually and spent 30 seconds whipping up the crowd after her straight sets win at Flushing Meadows.
But, as Ostapenko picked up her bag before leaving the court, she looked up at the fans goading her and, as many on social media have claimed, appeared to say ‘f*** you everyone’ to those in the stands.
The trigger for the clash appeared to be Townsend not giving the conventional apology when her shot clipped the top of the net at 5-5 in the first set.
A new angle of Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend’s argument shows the latter’s reply
The former French Open champion also appeared to take issue with Townsend choosing to start her warm-up at the net which, she claimed, ‘is very disrespectful and against the rules of a tennis match’.
‘You have to say sorry,’ said Ostapenko, who is notorious for her bad temper, after the match. ‘No I don’t have to say sorry,’ replied Townsend.
In the wake of her victory, Townsend revealed to ESPN: ‘She told me I have no class, no education and to see what happens when we get outside the US.
‘So, I’m looking forward to it: I beat her in Canada, outside the US, so let’s see what else she has to say… it’s competition, people get upset when they lose, some people say bad things.’
Shortly after, Ostapenko revealed on social media that she had been inundated with allegations of racism. The Latvian strongly denied the claims.
‘Wow how many messages I received that I am a racist,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘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.’
In her post-match press conference, Townsend was then asked if she believed there was any racial undertones to Ostapenko’s comments.
‘That’s something that you’re going to have to ask her,’ she said. ‘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 told Townsend she has ‘no education and no class’ in an extraordinary tantrum
‘How many messages I received that I am a racist… I was NEVER racist,’ Ostapenko said
The American continued: ‘I can’t speak on what her intentions were… saying I have no education and no class, I don’t really take that personally, because I know that it’s so far from the truth…. whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on.’
Townsend added that she is ‘very proud as a Black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture. I make sure that I do everything that I can to be the best representation possible every time that I step on the court and even off the court.’
The Latvian soon took to social media to explain her outburst, claiming: ‘I told my opponent she was very disrespectful as she had a net ball in a very deciding momen (sic) and didn’t say sorry, but her answer was that she doesn’t have to say sorry at all.’
Ostapenko continued: ‘It was first time ever that this happened to me on tour… if she plays in her homeland it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.’
Townsend branded Ostapenko’s explanation ‘comical’. The American also said she didn’t expect an apology and was ‘not surprised at all’ by her opponent’s behavior.
‘I’ve never been the one to back down from anything like that,’ Townsend said. ‘You’re not going to insult me, especially after I carried myself a certain type of way with nothing but respect. If I show respect to you, I expect respect as well.
‘So it was unfortunate, but it’s something I can put on my TikTok,’ she added with a laugh. ‘I’m just not going to tolerate disrespect… if you have something to say or you feel some type of way, you say it to my face, and we can talk about it, we can hash it out.’
Ostapenko has built a reputation for being among tennis’s most combustible characters. Last year the 28-year-old made headlines after she refused to shake hands with rival Victoria Azarenka.
It started as a friendly handshake, but Ostapenko quickly changed tone with Townsend
Townsend didn’t wait to hear the end of Ostapenko’s rant and decided to walk away
Ostapenko accused Townsend of violating tennis etiquette by refusing to apologise
A few weeks earlier, Ostapenko blew up at an umpire, accusing the official of being ‘blind’. ‘You make so much mistakes. I never want you on my match again,’ she said. ‘You ruin my matches… I will never forget, never.’
Back in 2022, meanwhile, the Latvian was fined $10,000 for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’ after knocking over her chair with a water bottle at Wimbledon.
And a year earlier, she clashed with Ajla Tomljanovic after the Australian accused Ostapenko of faking an injury.
‘You know she’s lying,’ Tomljanovic told the umpire. ‘If you think I’m faking it, you can talk with the physio,’ Ostapenko replied.
‘Your behavior is terrible. You have zero respect.’ The Latvian then branded her opponent ‘the worst player on tour’.
