New York (AP) – Our open Opponents Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko received a face-to-face argument On the field 11 sidelines immediately after Townsend won their second round 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday.
Townsend, an American who is number 1 in Doubles, said that Ostapenko, a Latvian Latvian, who won the French Open 2017, told her that she has ‘no class’ and ‘no education’.
A reporter asked Townsend, who is black, or she thought there were racial undertones for those comments.
“I did not take it that way, but also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of ‘not trained’ and all things, when it is furthest in the truth,” Townsend replied.
“So whether it had racial undertone or not, she can talk about that,” said Townsend. “The only thing I am worried about now has continued with this tournament.”
Ostapenko later posted on social media about “how many messages I received that I am a racist.”
“I was never racist in my life and I respect all the nations of people in the world. It doesn’t matter where you come from,” she wrote.
After the two players met each other on the net for a postmatch hand pressure, they kept together instead of going their own way, as usually happens. The 25th placed Ostapenko wagged with a finger at Townsend while they spoke.
“It’s competition,” said Townsend. “People get upset when they lose.”
When they finally stopped talking, Townsend went to the stands and pierced the partisan crowd, waved her arm above the head and the sound of spectators only became louder.
Clive Brunskill via Getty images
She and Ostapenko have previously confronted each other in both Singles and Doubles.
“There has never been a history. I don’t know how she thinks about me, but there is no beef on my side,” said Townsend. “She told me that I have no education, no class and to see what happens when we play each other outside the US, I said,” I am excited. Bring it. ” I have never been the one who withdrew from something like that. “
Ostapenko went on social media to post what she called: “Just a small update about the game.”
She wrote that Townsend was ‘disrespectful’ because he did not say ‘sorry’ after his helped by a net cord over a point.
“There are some lines in tennis that most players follow and it was (the) first time ever that this happened to me,” Ostapenko posted. “If she plays in her home country, this does not mean that she can behave and do what she wants.”
Ostapenko also complained that Townsend started heat up Before the match reaches the net at the net, instead of back at the baseline. While most players start at the baseline, Townsend noted that she started volleying for years.
Ostapenko came in Kerfuffles with opponents during competitions, including in 2021 when she lost to Alja Tomljanovic in Wimbledon. Tomljanovic accused Ostapenko van Liegen about having to leave the court for a medical time -out to tackle a belly problem.
Townsend recently moved to the top of the WTA Doubles ranking. But this is her first time that she reached the third round in singles during a Grand Slam tournament since 2023.
Clive Brunskill via Getty images
In Singles, Townsend nr. 139. She is the lowest-ranking American woman who defeated a former Grand Slam champion in Singles in a major since Kristie Ahn defeated council? – Ostapenko on the US Open 2019.
“What I am most proud of is that I let my racket talk. Because in the end I am the one here, sitting in front of you, going to the next round, getting the next check, going further, still being able to be here and talk to you, and that is the most important thing,” said Twnewsend Wednesday. “She’s full and she’s gone.”
