Things got heated at the US Open after a second-round match between American women’s tennis player Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia on August 27. Now-viral video shows that Ostapenko didn’t take it well after losing to Townsend in straight sets, and when it came to showing her frustration, she didn’t hold back, pointing and seeming to berate Townsend, who is Black, telling her she had no class and no education after the two shook hands.
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You can watch a clip of the exchange for yourself and hear the New York crowd’s boos in response here:
Ostapenko explained that her outburst was due to Townsend hitting a net ball, a situation in which the ball hits the top of the net before crossing over to the other side. And while some players will make a gesture of apology to their opponent, it’s not a rule of the sport. It also wouldn’t have changed the final outcome.
“There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was the first time ever that this happened to me on tour,” she wrote in a social media post explaining her behavior. “If she plays in her homeland, it doesn’t mean she can do whatever she wants.”
Townsend seemed to take the whole thing in stride, saying she already has the receipts to prove that she’s the better player.
“People get upset when they lose. Some people say bad things. She told me I have no class, I have no education and to see what happens when we get outside the US,” Townsend said in an interview after the match. “So I’m looking forward to it. I mean, I beat her in Canada, outside the US I beat her in New York [inside] the US, so let’s see what else she has to say.”
But the reaction online was swift, with many calling Ostapenko’s behavior racist.
“Pure Racism “Ostapenko has lost 57 Professional Tennis matches in her Professional Tennis career. NOT ONCE has she ever addressed a White woman like that, so it was pure racism, let’s call it out!” wrote someone on X.
Others pointed out that the “rule” she’s talking about isn’t written.
“The whole apology thing for winning a point needs to end…I’m tired of it and it’s fake anyway…completely unnecessary and needs to end immediately,” wrote someone on X.
It also isn’t helping Ostapenko’s case that she’s getting backup from Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, who said her French Open loss to Coco Gauff wasn’t because of Gauff’s incredible play, but about her mistakes.
“Well I have to say that she’s nice. She just sometimes can lose control,” Sabalenka said in a press conference at the US Open. “And she has some things in life to face and some struggles.”
Folks in the comments were not buying what Sabelenka was selling.
“Here’s the thing though. When “nice” people lose control, they don’t magically morph into racists,” wrote someone on TikTok.
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