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Naomi Osaka shared her thoughts on the heated exchange between Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko and American champion Taylor TownsendOstapenko told Townsend that she had “no class” and “no education” after Townsend refused to apologize for a net cord during the matchOsaka called Ostapenko’s comments “one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player”
Naomi Osaka is weighing in on the tense exchange that took place between Latvian tennis pro Jelena Ostapenko and American champion Taylor Townsend following their Wednesday, Aug. 27 match at the US Open.
Ostapenko, 28, accused Townsend, 29, of having “no class” and “no education,” after Townsend refused to apologize for being helped by a net cord — a situation in tennis where the ball hits the top of the net and continues onto the opponent’s side.
“I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport,” Osaka, 27, who has a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, told reporters on Thursday, Aug. 28. “And granted, I know Taylor and I know how hard she’s worked and I know how smart she is, so she’s the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that.”
Osaka, who has played against Ostapenko numerous times, also commented on the athlete as a person, seemingly implying that this widely publicized incident isn’t the worst of her transgressions.
Naomi Osaka claps for Jelena Ostapenko after their match on Aug. 1, 2025 in Montreal.
Robert Prange/Getty
“But if you’re, like, genuinely asking me about the history of Ostapenko, I don’t think that’s the craziest thing she’s said. I’m going to be honest,” Osaka added. “I think it’s ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to. And I don’t know if she knows the history of it in America.”
Osaka believes that the backlash Ostapenko has received will make an impact, adding, “But I know she’s never going to say that ever again in her life. But, yeah, I mean, it was just terrible. Like, that’s just really bad.”
As for whether she’d expect an apology for a net cord — an unofficial rule in tennis — Osaka continued, “Honestly, I probably don’t care either way. And I definitely wouldn’t care to the point where it would affect me that much that I get very angry. I think it’s up to the person whether they apologize or not, but if it’s really close, then I can see why they don’t apologize.”
Jelena Ostapenko yells at Taylor Townsend after their Aug. 27 match.
Clive Brunskill/Getty
Townsend beat Ostapenko during the Aug. 27 match with a score of 7-5-6-1. After Townsend and Ostapenko shook hands, Ostapenko was seen gesturing aggressively and looking upset while speaking to Townsend.
In post-match footage shared by ESPN, Townsend appears to say afterwards, “No, I don’t have to say sorry.”
Speaking about the exchange in her post-match interview with ESPN, Townsend said that “people get upset when they lose. Some people say bad things.”
Townsend then claimed that Ostapenko told her she had “no class, I have no education and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S., so I’m looking forward to it.”
“I mean, I beat her in Canada, outside the U.S. I beat her in New York [inside] the U.S., so let’s see what else she has to say,” she added.
Taylor Townsend plays against Jelena Ostapenko on Aug. 27 at the US Open.
Clive Brunskill/Getty
Later, Townsend seemingly moved past the incident, telling reporters in a post-match press conference, “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. 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.”
As for Ostapenko, the Latvian player posted a lengthy message to her Instagram Stories in response to the backlash she received for her comments to Townsend.
Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend have a tense exchange after their Aug. 27 match.
Clive Brunskill/Getty
“Wow how many messages I received that I am a racist. I was NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from,” Ostapenko insisted.
Ostapenko also noted in her statement that she felt Townsend was “disrespectful” for refusing to apologize for the net cord.
“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. “If she plays in her homeland, it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.”
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