'I was never a racist in my life': Jelena Ostapenko blames Townsend for 'disrespectful' actions

The altercation between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko was one of the highlights of the day in the US Open second round. The American won 7-5, 6-1, ending with the former French Open champion arguing with her opponent because she did not like her attitude during the match.

Both players later responded, explaining their version of the situation. While Townsend mentioned that her opponent told her that she “has no class or education,” Ostapenko took to social media to express her disapproval of what she considered to be her opponent's disrespectful attitude. Later, Ostapenko responded to accusations on her social media that she had been racist.

Ostapenko entered the match as the clear favorite, with a world No. 26 ranking and a smooth victory over China's Xinyu Wang in the first round (6-4, 6-3). On Court 11, Ostapenko started with a double break and quickly went up 3-0. However, the joy was short-lived, as Townsend gradually took control of the match, also leveraging the home-court advantage and the crowd, which was fully on her side.

The former French Open champion never managed to find her rhythm. Townsend turned the match around, winning 13 of the next 15 games and closing out with an impressive 7-5, 6-1 victory against an erratic Ostapenko, who, when shaking hands at the net, did not hesitate to make her feelings known.

Townsend's on-court interview

After the match, Townsend had an explosive reaction in her response to Ostapenko, then turned to the crowd while celebrating her victory, encouraging them to boo her opponent, who left the court with the audience completely against her. The American had secured her third appearance in the US Open Round of 32 and an important sum of points that will move her up from her current ranking of No. 129.

A few minutes later, Townsend gave her on-court interview, still visibly upset by the altercation. She responded honestly when asked what Ostapenko had said to her at the net. "It’s competition, people get upset when they lose and some people say bad things,” the 29-year-old player said.

“She told me I have no class, I have no education and to see what happens when we get outside the US,” the doubles world No. 1 commented. “I'm looking forward to it. I mean, I beat her in Canada outside the US, I beat her in New York outside the US. So let's see what else she has to say," Taylor Townsend said.