After shedding to Taylor Townsend within the second spherical of the US Open this week, Jelena Ostapenko instructed Townsend that she had “no class” and “no schooling.” On Saturday, Ostapenko issued an apology, claiming her feedback have been the results of English not being her first language.
The pair bought right into a heated confrontation after Townsend received their match in straight units. Ostapenko was indignant that Townsend, a Black American girl, had not apologized for a web twine throughout their match.
“Yeah, I imply, you understand, it is competitors,” Townsend mentioned after the confrontation. “Folks get upset once they lose. Some individuals say unhealthy issues. She instructed me I’ve no class, I’ve no schooling and to see what occurs once we get exterior the U.S. So I am trying ahead to it. I imply, I beat her in Canada, exterior the U.S. I beat her in New York [inside] the U.S., so let’s have a look at what else she has to say.”
Ostapenko took to Instagram after the match and wrote, “At present after the match I instructed my opponent that she was very disrespectful as she had a web ball in a really deciding second and did not apologize, however her reply was to say that she would not must apologize in any respect.” She continued, “If she performs in her homeland it doesn’t suggest that she will be able to behave and do no matter she desires.”
WATCH: Taylor Townsend, Jelena Ostapenko get into post-match spat at US Open
Zachary Pereles
Many felt that Ostapenko’s conduct had a racial tinge, which Townsend addressed on Thursday after profitable a first-round doubles match, saying, “Generally, I really feel like in society, particularly individuals of coloration, we’re anticipated to be silenced, or generally there are occasions the place we have now to determine and be very strategic as to once we converse up, and in these sort of moments, it is vital for me to talk up, not just for myself however for my tradition.”
On Saturday, Ostapenko once more went to Instagram, this time to supply an apology that was not totally directed towards Townsend, nor did it embrace Townsend’s identify in any respect.
“Hello all — I wished to apologize for a few of the issues I mentioned throughout my second-round singles match,” Ostapenko wrote. “English isn’t my native language, so once I mentioned schooling, I used to be talking solely about what I consider as tennis etiquette, however I perceive how the phrases I used may have offended many individuals past the tennis courtroom. I respect the assist as I proceed to study and develop as an individual and a tennis participant. Goodbye New York and I look ahead to being again subsequent 12 months.”
Townsend constructed on the momentum of her win over Ostapenko by defeating No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva on Friday to advance to the spherical of 16. She is going to face Barbora Krejcikova on Sunday with a visit to the quarterfinals on the road — the deepest she has gone in a Grand Slam singles occasion.
Townsend additionally received her second-round doubles match with accomplice Katerina Siniakova on Saturday.
