Dispute at the US Open
According to scandal: tennis star defends itself against allegations of racism
29.08.2025 – 00:09 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The match between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko is overshadowed by a freak from the Lettin. After that, she is faced with severe accusations – and reacts.
Former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko has resisted allegations of racism after her second-round end at the US Open. “Wow, I received so many news that I was a racist. I have never been racist in my life and respect all nations in the world,” wrote the Latvin on Instagram after 5: 7, 1: 6 against local hero Taylor Taylor. Then Ostapenko deleted her story again and posted: “I will come back more”.
What happened? Immediately after the transformed match ball, there was a word battle between the two opponents on the net. “Today after the game I told my opponent that she was very disrespectful because she had a network roller at a very crucial moment and did not apologize. But her answer was that she didn’t have to apologize at all,” said Ostapenko the verbal exchange of blows again (more read here).
Ostapenko was 25 at the tournament and went into the game against the world rankings in doubles as a favorite. Towned later reported insults: “People get angry when they lose. Some say bad things. She told me that I have no great and no education and I should wait and see what happens when we are outside the USA.”
When asked whether she felt a racist undertone in the remark, the black tennis player replied: “I didn’t see it that way, but it was also a stigma in our community that we are uneducated and all these things, although this is not the truth at all. I am very proud to be here as a black woman and to represent myself, ourselves and our culture.”
A day later, the former world rankings Naomi Osaka commented on the scandal. “It is obviously one of the worst things that you can say to a black tennis player in a mostly white sport,” said the Japanese. “I know Taylor and I know how hard she worked and how intelligent she is”. Ostapenko said Osaka: “I don’t know if she knows the story of it in America. But I know that she will never say that again in her life.”
It was already the third meeting of the two tennis players in singles. In addition, Ostapenko and Townsend met with their respective tennis partners this year in the double final of the Australian Open. The world ranking first Townsend prevailed with her Czech partner. Ostapenko is known for her spirited way and emotional outbreaks on the pitch. Again and again there are conflicts with opponents or the referees.