NEW YORK — Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko has apologized for a controversial post-match altercation with American Taylor Townsend at the US Open. The incident, which occurred after Townsend defeated Ostapenko in straight sets in the second round, saw Ostapenko confront her opponent at the net. During the heated exchange, Ostapenko was heard telling Townsend that she had “no education” and “no class,” according to a report from Al Jazeera.
The source of Ostapenko’s frustration was Townsend’s perceived lack of sportsmanship. Ostapenko later explained in a social media post that she was upset that Townsend had not apologized for winning a point on a “net cord,” where the ball clips the top of the net before landing in the opponent’s court. As reported by Sky Sports, a tradition of tennis etiquette dictates that players apologize in such a situation.
The comments quickly drew criticism, with many pointing out the racial implications of the “no education” remark directed at a Black player. Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka weighed in, stating the comment was “one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority white sport.” Townsend, while noting she did not personally take the comments in a racial way, acknowledged the hurtful nature of the “stigma in our community of being ‘not educated’,” as reported by Fox News.
Following the widespread backlash, Ostapenko issued a formal apology on her Instagram, stating that English is not her native language and that her intended meaning was a comment on tennis etiquette. She expressed regret for the offense her words caused “beyond the tennis court.” Taylor Townsend, who was unaware of the apology when asked about it in a press conference, welcomed the gesture, calling it “a learning lesson for her,” according to The Associated Press.
