{"id":188242,"date":"2025-08-31T00:35:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T00:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/188242\/"},"modified":"2025-08-31T00:35:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T00:35:18","slug":"jelena-ostapenko-clears-up-comments-after-taylor-townsend-flap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/188242\/","title":{"rendered":"Jelena Ostapenko clears up comments after Taylor Townsend flap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jelena Ostapenko finally offered an apology for her U.S. Open altercation with Taylor Townsend<\/a>, three days after the fact and on social media.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As Townsend moves on in Flushing Meadows<\/a> \u2014 winning again in doubles on Saturday and slated for singles Round of 16 on Sunday \u2014 the beaten Ostapenko sought to move on from the fervor she caused<\/a> by her on-court tantrum following a 7-5, 6-1 loss, when she told the victorious American that she had \u201cno education.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Townsend, who is black, added in an on-court interview that Ostapenko had accused her of having \u201cno class\u201d as well. Numerous players came to Townsend\u2019s defense in the ensuing days, including Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Ostapenko belatedly took to social media \u201cto apologize for some of the things\u201d she said. While Ostapenko wasn\u2019t specific and didn\u2019t mention Townsend, she did offer up the language barrier as an alibi.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jelena Ostapenko told American Taylor Townsend she has \u201cno education.\u201d Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cEnglish 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 I used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court,\u201d Ostapenko wrote. \u201cI 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Townsend has tried to take the high road.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat has been a stigma in our community of being not educated and all of the things when it\u2019s the furthest thing from the truth,\u201d Townsend said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend are pictured following their Aug. 27 match. Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Jelena Ostapenko apologizes for her behavior after the Taylor Townsend match at U.S. Open<\/p>\n

\u201cHi all \u2013 I wanted to apologize 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\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/arE6tHCrdZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Townsend continued to roll along in Flushing Meadows.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She\u2019s slated to play Barbora Krejcikova in the Round of 16 on Sunday, and teamed with Katerina Siniakova for a second-round 6-3, 6-3 doubles win over Alycia Parks and Dayana Yastremska on Court 12 on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve risen to the top-ranked doubles team after winning Wimbledon last year and this year\u2019s Australian Open. Now they\u2019re into the third round.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Venus Williams, at the age of 45, teamed with Leylah Fernandez<\/a> for a 7-6, 6-1 doubles win over Ulrikke Eikeri and Erl Hozuml, completed with her signature twirl at the end.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first week of the U.S. Open has been dramatic, between blowups by Daniil Medvedev<\/a> and Ostapenko and Stefanos Tsitsipas. But some players suggested it may be the city bringing out the drama.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Daniil Medvedev breaks his racket after losing in five sets to Benjamin Bonzi of France during their Men\u2019s Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 24, 2025. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in New York, and the fans here \u2014 I love them \u2014 but they can definitely \u2026 you\u2019re on the wrong side of things, can \u2026 they\u2019re into the match. They\u2019re passionate tennis fans. They know what\u2019s going on,\u201d Gauff said. \u201cAnd they\u2019re used to other events, major events, happening in the city that aren\u2019t tennis.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jess Pegula, from upstate New York, agreed the city may be playing a role.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. It\u2019s just New York City tends to bring out just a lot of drama, I guess,\u201d Pegula laughed. \u201cI feel like the crowds, they\u2019re pretty crazy. They kind of get everyone riled up. Like you said, everyone is tense.\u201d<\/p>\n

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