Naomi Osaka speaks out on the incident where Taylor Townsend kept her composure on court despite Jelena Ostapenko’s fiery outburst.
(The Post News)– Former world number one Naomi Osaka has weighed in on the storm surrounding Jelena Ostapenko’s words to Taylor Townsend, saying the Latvian’s choice of language was deeply offensive and poorly timed.
Ostapenko clashed with Townsend after losing 7-5 6-1 in their second-round US Open match on Wednesday, accusing the American of failing to apologize after a lucky net cord. In the heat of the argument, Ostapenko reportedly told Townsend she had “no class” and “no education.”
While Townsend insisted she did not believe the exchange had racial undertones, she admitted that those words carry a painful stigma for the Black community. Osaka, however, was blunt in her assessment, calling the comments “one of the worst things you could say to a Black tennis player in a predominantly white sport.”
Coco Gauff echoed Osaka’s view, saying Ostapenko’s words were out of line regardless of the emotions of defeat. World number one Aryna Sabalenka added that she had spoken to Ostapenko privately, encouraging her to process the loss in a more mature way. Ostapenko has since denied any racist intent, but the fallout has left her under sharp criticism as the tournament continues.
About the Author
