American doubles world number one Taylor Townsend and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko were involved in a fiery on-court confrontation at the US Open on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, with both players later trading accusations after their second-round clash.
Townsend, 29, defeated the 25th seed 7-5 6-1 on Court 11, but the drama did not end with the score line.
The flashpoint came after a net cord went in Townsend’s favour, prompting Ostapenko to accuse her opponent of failing to apologise.
The two exchanged words at the net following their brief handshake before continuing the argument at Ostapenko’s chair.
Townsend later told reporters that Ostapenko had insulted her.
“She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the US. I said, I’m excited, bring it on,” she explained.
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On-court microphones also picked up Townsend dismissively telling Ostapenko to “take the L [loss]” as she whipped up the crowd in celebration.
Boos followed Ostapenko as she exited the court.
Despite the heated scenes, Townsend said she bore no grudges.
“There’s no beef. But I didn’t back down because you’re not going to insult me, especially after I carried myself with nothing but respect,” she added.
Ostapenko, 28, who won the 2017 French Open and is no stranger to on-court controversy, took to Instagram after the match to defend herself.
She accused Townsend of showing “very disrespectful” behaviour and insisted her comments were linked to tennis etiquette rather than anything else.
“I told my opponent she didn’t say sorry [for the net cord], but her answer was that she doesn’t have to say sorry at all,” she wrote.
Asked whether she believed the insults had a racial undertone, Townsend, who is African-American, replied:
“I didn’t take it in that way. But that has been a stigma in our community, being called uneducated or without class. Whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on.”
Ostapenko later doubled down, stressing that she made no racists comments against her opponent.
“I was never racist in my life. I respect all nations of people in the world; for me it doesn’t matter where you come from,” she added.
Watch the video below:
Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko got in a heated interaction after their second round match at the US Open.
Townsend is on to the third round. pic.twitter.com/cOIYzoyfmG
— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2025
FKA/EB
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