Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 28, 2025
Image source: Julian Finney/Getty
New York – Speech is cheap, but trash talk can be expensive.
Ask her for her reaction to the intense communication Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend At the end of Wednesday night’s U.S. Open, Naomi Osaka No tension.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Osaka called Ostapenko’s comment “You can say one of the worst things to black tennis players.”
In case you missed it, putting the world No. 1 Townsend doubles hit No. 25 seed Ostapenko, beating the third round of the U.S. Open 7-5, 6-1.
In the post-match handshake, her opponent, who was upset, did not apologize for the net ball shooting, can be heard blowing up Townsend and saying, “You have no education… Wait until we are outside the United States”
Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko had a fierce interaction after the second round of the U.S. Open.
Townsend enters the third round. pic.twitter.com/coiyzoyfmg
– ESPN (@epn) August 27, 2025
Taylor Townsend recounts her interaction with No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko after the second round of the U.S. Open.
Townsend entered the third round after her frustrated victory. pic.twitter.com/jfvqhe8itw
– ESPN (@epn) August 27, 2025
Osaka pushes forward Hailey Baptiste6-3, 6-1 at Louis Armstrong Stadium, heading to the third round of the U.S. Open. In the post-match press, Osaka was asked about her reaction to Ostapenko’s words.
“I mean, it’s really hard to say. I think it’s obviously one of the worst things you say to black tennis players in most white sports,” Osaka said. “And I know Taylor, I know how hard she works and I know how smart she is, so she’s the furthest thing about uneducated or something like that.
“But if you really ask me about Ostapenko’s history, I don’t think it’s the craziest thing she said. Honestly.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrgizzdrblm
Indeed, Ostapenko apparently did not attend Stefan Edberg School of Physical Education. In fact, she is known for her famous “drive” handshake after some losses, sometimes calling on her opponent in court.
Ostapenko and Ajla Tomljanovic famously played the famous match in 2021 Wimbledon when Australia accused the Latvian of being injured and forged a medical timeout while trailing 4-0 in the third set.
“You know she’s lying,” Tonjanovic told Wimbledon’s referee.
“If you think I’m faked it, you can talk to physiology,” Ostapenko said. “You’re doing a bad job. Your respect zero…you’re the worst player on the tour.”
In another Wimbledon match, Ostapenko once summoned Camila Giorgi and her father, Sergio Giorgi, to claim that Elder George was yelling in a motion to distract her.
Of course, Osaka himself is not unfamiliar with post-match controversy. After bowing earlier this month at the Montreal final, Osaka ignored the teenager congratulated the teenager in a brief runner-up speech that was less than 20 seconds after bowing to the 18-year-old Canadian Wild Vicky Mboko in the Montreal final. To his credit, Osaka did apologize to Mboko, who regarded Osaka as her tennis hero the next day.
Now, Osaka’s post-match commentary tore up the “terrible” .
“I think it’s a discomfort time and the worst person you’ve ever had. And I don’t know if she knows the history of the United States,” Osaka said. “But I know she will never say it again
Life. But yes, I mean, it’s horrible. Like, that’s really bad. ”
When Townsend was asked if she felt Ostapenko’s “uneducational” mockery was delivered by racial colors in her press, the American replied, “I can’t talk about her intentions, I can only talk about how I handle this situation.”
Townsend continued that she refused to let Ostapenko or any opponent define her character.
“I didn’t really think about this by saying I had no education, no classes, because I knew it was far from the truth and far from anything,” Townsend said. “Again, if I allow others,
People had to say to me this way and then they won. So, ultimately, no.
“I stood up for myself, and at that moment I kept thinking about portraying myself and how I wanted to show up, and if my son saw this interaction, how would he look at it? I think he would be proud of the way I handle the situation.
“I’m strong. I’m very proud when Black women are here to represent themselves, to represent us and our culture. I make sure that whenever I step into court or even on the court, I can be the best representative I can.”
Ostapenko refuted her “uneducated” ridicule with racial hostility and said Townsend refused to apologize for the online ropes and apologized in court for “very disrespectful” behavior.
