Ostapenko unleashed a verbal volley at her American opponent for being disrespectful throughout their second-round match.
Revealed On 28 Aug 2025
Jelena Ostapenko accused Taylor Townsend of missing “class” throughout a livid on-court confrontation between the 2 gamers after their second-round match on the US Open, the place the unseeded American defeated the Twenty fifth-seeded Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1.
Ostapenko spoke sharply to Townsend throughout a chilly handshake on the internet on the finish of the match on Wednesday.
Townsend at one level stated “I don’t must do something” to Ostapenko, who repeatedly pointed at her opponent. The American finally walked away and shook the chair umpire’s hand and proceeded to whip the group right into a frenzy.
“She instructed me I’ve no training, no class, and to see what occurs if we play one another exterior of the US,” Townsend instructed reporters after the match.
“I stated, I’m excited, carry it. I’ve by no means been the one to again down from something like that. I simply thought that it was actually fascinating.
“There’s no beef. However once more, such as you guys noticed, I didn’t again down since you’re not going to insult me, particularly after I carried myself a sure kind of approach with nothing however respect.
“If I present respect to you, I count on respect as effectively. That’s simply the actual fact of the matter … it was unlucky, however, you recognize, it’s one thing I can placed on my TikTok.
“The factor I’m probably the most pleased with is that I let my racket discuss. As a result of finally, I’m the one right here sitting in entrance of you guys shifting on to the following spherical, getting the following cheque, shifting on … and that’s what’s an important.
“She’s packed up and he or she’s gone. I’m right here, and that’s the one factor that issues.”
‘Very disrespectful’
Ostapenko stated in a submit on Instagram that she had been angered by Townsend’s failure to acknowledge a internet twine in her favour through the match.
The 28-year-old additionally accused Townsend of breaching etiquette by beginning her pre-match warm-up on the internet.
“Immediately after the match I instructed my opponent that she was very disrespectful as she had a internet ball in a really deciding second and didn’t express regret. However her reply was that she doesn’t must express regret,” Ostapenko wrote.
“There are some guidelines in tennis which many of the gamers observe and it was first time ever that this occurred to me on tour.
“If she performs in her homeland it doesn’t imply that she will be able to behave and do no matter she needs.”
Ostapenko’s rationalization didn’t impress Townsend when she was knowledgeable of the Latvian’s remarks.
“I imply, it’s sports activities,” Townsend stated. “I really feel like folks have gotten a little bit bit tender. I’m not going to lie. It’s sports activities. Folks discuss trash. You recognize, folks say issues. No matter, folks get mad.
“Everybody has a proper to really feel how they really feel. The issue is, don’t push your expectations on me. If you happen to count on for somebody to apologise and so they don’t and also you get upset about it, that’s your fault, not mine.”
Ostapenko acquired phrases of help from world primary Aryna Sabalenka, who revealed after her late-night match that she had spoken with the Latvian following the incident.
“I’ve to say that she’s good,” Sabalenka stated of Ostapenko. “Simply typically she will be able to lose management over her feelings, which is fairly robust.
“I’m fairly certain, trying again, she’s not completely satisfied along with her behaviour.”