“No class, no education”: Jelena Ostapenko lashes out at Taylor Townsend after US Open loss

NEW YORK—“This is the type of day you all live for,” Taylor Townsend told the media as she sat down for her post-match press conference at the 2025 US Open.

Townsend had just clinched a 7-5, 6-1 win over Jelena Ostapenko that devolved into near-bedlam as the No. 25 seeded-Ostapenko lashed out at her victorious opponent at net, accusing her of having “no class and no education,” drawing boos from the Court 11 crowd.

“It’s competition. People get upset when they lose,” Townsend said on court immediately after the match.

I chalk it up to being upset and, you know, she pulled out all the stops to try and break the momentum. Sometimes people do that, but it is what it is. Still, there's no beef. But again, like you guys saw, I didn't back down because you're not going to insult me, especially after I carried myself a certain type of way with nothing but respect. If I show respect to you, I expect respect as well. That's just the fact of the matter. Taylor Townsend

“I didn't back down because you're not going to insult me, especially after I carried myself a certain type of way with nothing but respect,” she added in press. “If I show respect to you, I expect respect as well. That's just the fact of the matter.

“I think that that's tennis, right? You know no matter what's going on, it's me versus you, but at the end of the day we have to respect each other and respect what happens out on the court. It's competition.

“So, you know, it was unfortunate, but…it's something I can put on my TikTok!”

By the time Townsend had taken the podium for her press conference Ostapenko, who had not been requested by the media in the event that she lost her second round, posted a statement to social media accusing Townsend of being “very disrespectful as she had a net ball in a very deciding moment and didn’t say sorry.

“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.”

Ostapenko, who later denied the outburst had racist understones on her Instagram stories, further accused Townsend of breaking a rule by to start their pre-match warm-up at the net, something Townsend said she does before every match.

“You know, this isn't the first, second, third, fourth time I've played Jelena, so if she's complaining about how I warm up, that's fine,” said Townsend. “You can go back to the time that I played my first-ever pro tennis match, and I've been doing this since even juniors. It wasn't anything targeted towards her to try and take her off of her game or her rhythm. You know, I just was doing my thing.

“Honestly, laugh at it. I think it's comical. I think that it's kind of funny, because to then go online and have to justify what you said, you obviously feel some type of way and feel like you have to give an explanation for how you acted. I don't feel like I have to explain how I acted. I think it was very self-explanatory. I'm standing in what I said.”

Though she called this behavior part of Ostapenko’s “MO,” Townsend said she bore no ill will against the former French Open champion after the match, the top-ranked doubles player dismissing the suggestion that Ostapenko be barred from competing in the doubles event as a result of the incident.

The thing that I'm the most proud of is that I let my racquet talk. Because ultimately, I'm the one here sitting in front of you guys moving on to the next round, getting the next check, moving on, being able to still be here and speak to you guys, and that's what's the most important. She's packed up and she's gone. I'm here, and that's the only thing that matters. Taylor Townsend

“I'm an Aries, so I'm a fire sign. I wore fire today. Maybe that's why I was fired up. I was ready to go,” she said with a laugh.

“Yeah, I mean, this is one of the reasons why I love sports. You know, to be able to watch the tension and watch things and to see how someone can handle themselves in the moment. You know, how they handled their emotions, how they handle ups and downs, how they handle momentum shifts, you know, things that are thrown in the mix of whether it's to try and break your rhythm, break your momentum, how do they handle it mentally?

“The thing that I'm the most proud of is that I let my racquet talk,” she added as the press conference concluded. “Because ultimately, I'm the one here sitting in front of you guys moving on to the next round, getting the next check, moving on, being able to still be here and speak to you guys, and that's what's the most important. She's packed up and she's gone. I'm here, and that's the only thing that matters.”

Into the third round of the US Open for the third time in her singles career, Townsend will next face No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva for the chance to reach the second week.