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The on-court drama kicked off after Latvian player Jelena Ostapenko lost to Taylor Townsend, who’s from Chicago.
We’re not even halfway through the 2025 US Open, and there’s been no shortage of drama. However, an on-court blowout during Day 4 of the women’s tournament has sparked some serious conversations about perceived racism.
Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
On Wednesday, US player Taylor Townsend faced former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in a second-round matchup. There was tension between the players during the match; however, things got seriously heated after Taylor took the win.
Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Taylor — who is currently ranked as the 139th player in the women’s singles, but is number 1 on the doubles side — celebrated her win with a flourish and approached the net to shake Jelena’s hand. However, the act of good sportsmanship unraveled into a heated verbal altercation when Jelena made a comment at the net.
Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
As it became clear that the two were arguing, the crowd rallied behind their home player. Only certain parts of the conversation were picked up by the microphones on court; however, Taylor could be heard telling Jelena that she needs to “learn how to take the L [loss]” as the Latvian player leaned in and pointed her finger in her face.
Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Eventually, Taylor walked away from the discussion, shook the umpire's hand, and hyped up the crowd as she celebrated her win. Jelena was then booed by the spectators as she walked off the court.
In a post-match interview with ESPN, Taylor shed more light on what she says went down, telling the reporter: “It’s competition, people get upset when they lose…She told me I have no class, I have no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the US.”
ESPN / Via x.com
“I’m looking forward to it,” Taylor added playfully. “I beat her in Canada, outside the US…so let’s see what else she has to say.”
For her part, Jelena — who has previously received fines for “unsportsmanlike conduct” following defeat — said on Instagram that she felt Taylor was being “disrespectful” for not apologizing to her during a “deciding” moment in the match that didn’t go her way.
@jelena.ostapenko / Via Instagram: @jelena.ostapenko
“Her answer was that she doesn’t have to say sorry at all,” Jelena wrote. “If she plays in her homeland, it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.”
The heated moment between the two players has gained a lot of attention online, with many fans suggesting that Jelena’s comments about Taylor’s lack of “education” and “class” may have had racial undertones.
Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
For context, Jelena can’t be fully heard making the “no class” and “no education” comments; however, in footage of the row where her mouth can be seen, the movement of her lips appears to correspond with what Taylor claimed was said. BuzzFeed has reached out to Jelena for comment.
As a result, Jelena issued another statement via Instagram denying claims that she was “racist” towards her opponent. “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,” she wrote on her IG story.
@jelena.ostapenko / Via Instagram: @jelena.ostapenko
At the time of writing, Jelena appears to have deleted her previous story posts about the verbal altercation, following up with a shorter message thanking fans for their support. “I will come back stronger,” she wrote in the most recent update. “Situations like that motivate me to work even harder.”
Meanwhile, in her post-match press conference, Taylor was asked whether she thought Jelena’s comments were racially charged, to which she responded: “I can’t speak on what her intentions were…I didn’t take it in that way. But also 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.”
US Open Tennis Championships / Via youtu.be
“I’m very strong. I’m very proud as a Black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture. And I make sure that I do everything I can to be the best representation possible every time that I step on the court and even off the court,” she also said. “Whether it had racial undertones or not, that's something she can speak on.”
Amid all the discourse, Taylor is being praised for her grace and respect — and rightfully so! She advances to the next round of the tournament and is set to return to the court tomorrow.
Ishika Samant / Getty Images
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