Jelena Ostapenko has exited the US Open in controversy after getting involved in a tense argument with Taylor Townsend following her second round defeat.
The Latvian 25th seed suffered a surprise 7-5, 6-1 loss to the American, who is also the current world No.1 in doubles. Just seconds after the match had ended, the two got involved in a heated argument at the net, which fired up Townsend, who was accused by her opponent of being disrespectful. Ostapenko took issue with how she conducted herself during certain stages and believed she didn’t follow the right protocol that players usually do.
Townsend swiftly defended her actions during her on-court interview with ESPN. After being cheered by the crowd, she encouraged them to boo Ostapenko as she left.
“It’s competition, people get upset when they lose and some people say bad things,” she said.
“She told me I have no class, I have no education and to see what happens when we get outside the US.
“I’m looking forward to it. I mean, I beat her in Canada outside the US, I beat her in New York outside the US. So let’s see what else she has to say.”
Meanwhile, Ostapenko later issued a statement on social media defending her actions. The 2017 French Open champion has now failed to win back-to-back matches in three out of her last four Grand Slam appearances. At the US Open, specifically, she has only advanced beyond the second round once in her last four attempts, which was in 2022 when she reached the quarterfinals.
“Today after the match I told my opponent that she was very disrespectful as she had a net ball in a very deciding moment and didn’t say sorry, but her answer was that she doesn’t have to say sorry at all,” Ostapenko wrote on Instagram.
“There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was the 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.”
“In the beginning of the match all players are supposed to start warm up on the baseline. The opponent came up and straight away started the warm up at the net, which is very disrespectful and against the rules of a tennis match.”
Then, in another update, Ostapenko hit back at accusations on social media that she was racist towards Townsend. During the argument, she wasn’t heard saying anything that would have been considered racist. However, some have interpreted her comment “education, no class” as potentially being so.
“Wow, how many messages I received that I am a racist. I was NEVER a racist in my life, and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from.” She stated.
“There are some rules in tennis and unfortunately when the crowd is with you, you can’t use it in a disrespectful way to your opponent. Unfortunately for me, coming from such a small country, I don’t have that huge support and a chance to play in my homeland. I always loved to play in the US and at the US Open, but this is the first time someone is approaching the match in such a disrespectful way.”
The two players already have an extensive rivalry on the Tour. So far in their careers, they have faced each other three times in singles and a further nine times in doubles. Although this is the first time there has been a confrontation between them.
Townsend responded to accusations of being disrespectful during her press conference, where she was told about Ostapenko’s statement.
“I mean, it’s sports,” Townsend said. “I feel like people have gotten a little bit soft. I’m not going to lie. It’s sports. People talk trash. You know, people say things. Whatever, people get mad.
“Everyone has a right to feel how they feel. The problem is, don’t push your expectations on me. If you expect for someone to apologize and they don’t and you get upset about it, that’s your fault, not mine.”
Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka has jumped to Ostapenko’s defence after speaking with her following the incident. Sabalenka moved into the third round with a 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Polina Kudermetova.
“I spoke with Jelena after the match, but during our conversation, I still don’t know what happened. She is nice, but sometimes she can lose control,” Sabalenka commented.
“She has some things in life to face and some struggles. I was just trying to help her. I don’t know, not to face it in a more mature way, but try and help her settle down and be someone she could speak to and just let it go.
“I think sometimes she can lose control of her emotions which is pretty tough and I really hope that one day she will figure it out herself and handle it much better.
“I think sometimes when you struggle with some things in life it can affect your tennis career and on court you are more unstable.
“You can lose control and you just don’t understand what is going on in the moment. I am pretty sure looking back she is not happy with her behaviour.”
It is possible that Ostapenko and Townsend could play against each other again at the US Open this year. To do so, they both must make it through to the doubles final.
