‘No class, no education’: Ostapenko’s shocking attack on Townsend stuns US Open
Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko’s fiery US Open row
A storm has erupted at the US Open after Jelena Ostapenko clashed with Taylor Townsend, with the Latvian’s post-match comments branded “unacceptable” by Naomi Osaka and scrutinised by fellow players and fans.
Townsend stunned 25th seed Ostapenko with a 7-5, 6-1 second-round victory at Flushing Meadows, but the win was overshadowed by a heated confrontation at the net. The argument began when a net cord rolled Townsend’s way late in the opening set, prompting Ostapenko to accuse her of failing to apologise.
At the handshake, Ostapenko told the American she had “no class” and “no education.” Townsend later revealed Ostapenko also warned her to “see what happens outside the US.”
“She told me I have no education, no class,” Townsend explained. “I said, I’m excited, bring it on.”
The incident quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament. Naomi Osaka, back in the third round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2021, condemned Ostapenko’s language.
“It’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority white sport,” Osaka said. “I know Taylor, she’s smart, she’s worked incredibly hard, and she’s the furthest thing from uneducated.”
Osaka suggested the remark carried painful racial undertones, even if not intended that way:
“It was ill-timed, directed at the worst person you could have ever said it to, and I’m sure she’ll never say it again. It was terrible.”
Townsend, 28, stressed she did not take the remarks personally as racist, though she acknowledged the historical weight behind them.
“In our community, the stigma of being labelled uneducated has always been there. It couldn’t be further from the truth.”
She also embraced the spotlight the row generated. “If I can draw people into the stadium, make fans buy tickets, and shine a light on the sport, that’s a crown I’ll gladly wear.”
Townsend’s response earned her widespread admiration. She noted that players privately offered support in the locker room, and online her follower count surged. “It’s nice to know people saw how I handled it. I wasn’t seeking validation, but it makes me proud.”
Ostapenko, a former French Open champion known for her fiery temperament, strongly denied that her words were racially motivated, later posting on social media that her remarks were taken out of context.
Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka, who said she spoke with Ostapenko afterwards, acknowledged her rival’s volatile nature:
“She’s a nice person but sometimes loses control. I tried to help her face things more maturely. I’m sure, looking back, she’s not happy with her behaviour.”
Despite speculation that she would receive a hostile reception, Ostapenko was cheered in her next doubles match. She skipped media duties afterwards, with organisers citing medical reasons.
The row has gone beyond tennis headlines, igniting broader discussions around respect, race, and conduct in professional sport. Townsend hopes her decision to speak openly about the incident will spark positive change.
“Whatever attention it brought, it brought people into the sport. That’s what matters most.”
With Townsend thriving in both singles and doubles and Ostapenko attempting to move on, the fallout from this fiery exchange continues to ripple through Flushing Meadows — and the conversation shows no sign of ending soon.
