Jelena Ostapenko Apologizes for Comments Following U.S. Open Match with Taylor Townsend
Jelena Ostapenko has apologized for remarks made during and after her second-round singles match against Taylor townsend at the U.S. Open on Aug. 27, addressing concerns about comments perceived as critical of Townsend’s education. Ostapenko clarified via Twitter on Aug. 30 that her comments where a result of language barriers and not intended to be disparaging.
The controversy arose after Ostapenko’s heated exchange with Townsend on court and subsequent post-match comments, sparking a conversation about societal stigmas surrounding education within the Black community. Townsend, 29, addressed the situation, stating, “That has been a stigma in our community of being not educated and all of the things when it’s the furthest thing from the truth.” The incident highlights the importance of careful dialog, particularly in a global sport, and the potential for misinterpretation.
Ostapenko explained in her apology, posted by The Tennis letter on Twitter, that English is not her native language and her use of the word “education” was meant to refer specifically to tennis instruction. “I was speaking only about tennis education,” she stated.
Townsend continues to compete in the U.S. Open, having secured a Round of 16 match against Barbora Krejcikova on Sunday. She is also performing well in doubles, partnering with Katerina Siniakova to win their second-round match 6-3, 6-3 against Alycia Parks and Dayana Yastremska on Saturday. Siniakova and Townsend are currently the top-ranked doubles team, having won Wimbledon in 2023 and the Australian Open earlier this year, and have advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open doubles tournament.
