By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 28, 2025
Picture credit score: Julian Finney/Getty
NEW YORK—Speak is reasonable, however trash speak will be pricey.
Requested her response to the heated trade between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend on the conclusion of their US Open match Wednesday night time, Naomi Osaka didn’t pull punches.
Two-time US Open champion Osaka referred to as Ostapenko’s feedback “one of many worst issues you possibly can say to a black tennis participant.”
In case you missed it, doubles world No. 1 Townsend upset the Twenty fifth-seeded Ostapenko, 7-5, 6-1 to achieve the US Open third spherical.
Within the check post-match handshake, Ostapenko, who was upset her opponent didn’t apologize for a net-cord shot, may very well be heard blasting Townsend saying “you don’t have any training…wait till we’re outdoors the U.S.”
Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko obtained in a heated interplay after their second spherical match on the US Open.
Townsend is on to the third spherical. pic.twitter.com/cOIYzoyfmG
— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2025
Taylor Townsend recounted her interplay with No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko after their second spherical match on the US Open.
Townsend superior to the third spherical after her upset win 👏 pic.twitter.com/jFvQHE8iTw
— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2025
Osaka powered previous Hailey Baptiste, 6-3, 6-1 on Louis Armstrong Stadium to advance to the US Open third spherical. In her post-match presser, Osaka was requested her response to Ostapenko’s phrases.
“I imply, it’s actually troublesome to say. I feel clearly it’s one of many worst issues you possibly can say to a Black tennis participant in a majority White sport,” Osaka mentioned. “And granted, I do know Taylor and I understand how onerous she’s labored and I understand how good she is, so she’s the furthest factor from uneducated or something like that.
“However when you’re like genuinely asking me concerning the historical past of Ostapenko, I don’t assume that’s the craziest factor she’s mentioned. I’m going to be sincere.”
Certainly, Ostapenko clearly didn’t attend the Stefan Edberg faculty of sportsmanship. Actually, she’s recognized for the famed “drive by” handshake after some losses and for calling out opponents generally on court docket.
Ostapenko and Ajla Tomljanovic famously went at it on the 2021 Wimbledon when the Aussie accused the Latvian of faking an damage to take a medical timeout whereas trailing 4-0 within the third set.
“You realize she’s mendacity,” Tomljanovic instructed the chair umpire at Wimbledon.
“When you assume I’m faking it, you possibly can speak with the physio,” Ostapenko mentioned. “Your conduct is horrible. You’ve got zero respect… You’re the worst participant on tour.”
In one other Wimbledon match, Ostapenko as soon as referred to as out each Camila Giorgi and her father, Sergio Giorgi, claiming the elder Giorgi was shouting and coughing throughout her serve movement in an effort to distract her.
After all, Osaka herself is not any stranger to post-match controversy. After bowing to 18-year-old Canadian wild card Vicky Mboko within the Montreal ultimate earlier this month, Osaka uncared for to congratulate {the teenager} in her temporary runner-up speech that spanned lower than 20 seconds. To her credit score, Osaka did apologize to Mboko, who views Osaka as her tennis hero, the subsequent day.
At the moment, Osaka ripped Ostapenko’s post-match remark to Townsend as “horrible.”
“I feel it’s ailing timing and the worst individual you may have ever mentioned it to. And I don’t know if she is aware of the historical past of it in America,” Osaka mentioned. “However I do know she’s by no means going to say that ever once more in her
life. However, yeah, I imply, it was simply horrible. Like, that’s simply actually unhealthy.”
When Townsend was requested if she felt Ostapenko’s “no training” taunt was delivered with racial overtones in her presser, the American replied “I can’t communicate on what her intention have been, I can solely communicate on how I dealt with the state of affairs.”
Townsend went on to say she refuses to let Ostapenko, or any opponent, outline her character.
“Saying I’ve no training and no class, I don’t actually take that personally, as a result of I do know that it’s so removed from the reality and so removed from something,” Townsend mentioned. “Once more, if I enable what different
folks must say about me have an effect on me in that means, then they win. So finally, no.
“I stood up for myself, and I stored in my thoughts in that second how I wished to painting myself and the way I wished to point out up, and if my son have been to see this interplay, how would he view it? I feel he can be pleased with the best way that I dealt with the state of affairs.
“I’m very robust. I’m very proud as a Black girl being out right here representing myself and representing us and our tradition. I be sure that I do all the pieces that I can to be the perfect illustration doable each time that I step on the court docket and even off the court docket.”
Ostapenko refutes her “no training” taunt was mentioned with racial animosity and mentioned her anger and frustration was fueled by Townsend declining to apologize for a internet twine and for “very disrespectful” conduct on court docket.
