Taylor Townsend reacts to Jelena Ostapenko apology for 'no education' remark - 'I think that it's a learning lesson'
Updated 31/08/2025 at 11:46 GMT+1
Jelena Ostapenko took to Instagram to apologise after she accused Taylor Townsend of having "no class" and "no education" after their second-round singles match at the US Open earlier this week. In response, Townsend said she hopes the fall-out from those comments will provide a "learning lesson" for Ostapenko, adding that they were "hurtful", "belligerent", and "offensive".
Taylor Townsend
Image credit: Getty Images
Taylor Townsend admitted it was "nice" that Jelena Ostapenko apologised for accusing the American of having "no education" earlier this week.
Townsend said that Ostapenko told her she had "no class" and "no education" in the wake of her 7-5 6-1 victory in the second round of the US Open.
The incident occurred after Ostapenko confronted Townsend for not apologising for a net cord during the first set.
While Townsend said she did not believe there were racial overtones to the 28-year-old Latvian’s comments, Naomi Osaka, a former world No. 1, has since said that to suggest Townsend is "uneducated" is "one of the worst things you could say to a black tennis player", while Ben Shelton labelled Ostapenko's remarks as "crazy".
On Saturday, Ostapenko took to Instagram and said: "Hi all - I wanted to apologise for some of the things I said during my second-round singles match.
"English is not my native language, so when I said education I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette. But I understand how the words used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court.
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'Crazy statement' - Shelton on Ostapenko's 'no education, no class' comment on Townsend
Video credit: SNTV
"I appreciate the support as I continue to learn and grow as a person and a tennis player. Goodbye New York and I look forward to being back next year."
In response, Townsend said that while she had not heard from Ostapenko, she welcomed the public apology and hoped the incident was a "learning lesson" for the 2017 French Open champion.
"That's nice that she did that, that she apologised," Townsend said. "That's fine. That's cool.
"At the end of the day, I think that it's a learning lesson for her. Again, like I said when everything first happened, you cannot push your expectations on other people. That's ultimately what happened.
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Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (R) argues with Taylor Townsend of the United States (L) following their Women's Singles
Image credit: Getty Images
"She expected me to react in a certain type of way, and I didn't, and it infuriated her.
"Which led her to say things that are hurtful, that are belligerent, that are offensive, not only to me, but, you know, to the sport and to a whole culture of people, where I try to do my best to represent the best that I can.
"So for me, it's nice that she apologised. You know, this isn't the first, second, third, fourth time.
"There have been incidents where she gets upset about a net cord so it's not a surprising thing that she acted this way."
Townsend added: "Also, we just have to keep in mind that it's competition, we're playing a sport.
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"You can't get upset if someone doesn't do something that you want them to do. Like, who are you? I can't get mad that you don't do something that maybe I expect you to do.
"Ultimately, when we get our emotions wrapped up in things is where we get our feelings hurt.
"I think that's ultimately what happened. It's great she went to social media and apologised. I really hope from this she can take that, ‘Hey, you can't control people and it's better just to focus on yourself’".
Ostapenko was knocked out of the US Open on Thursday, when she lost a doubles match with Barbora Krejcikova.
Townsend will play Krejcikova in the fourth round of the singles on Sunday.
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