After a heated exchange between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend following their second-round match, Naomi Osaka responded to Townsend’s remarks—“no class” and “no education”—calling them a severe insult to a black tennis player.
Osaka shared her thoughts on the incident after her own second-round win at the US Open, where she noted the intensity of the situation was hard to miss, given how frequently it was shown on television.
She hesitated briefly before expressing her views. “It’s hard to articulate,” she began. “Saying that to a black player in predominantly white sports is, without a doubt, one of the worst things you could say. I do know Taylor.”
Yet, addressing Ostapenko’s past remarks, Osaka suggested that while they might not be the worst she’s ever made, they certainly weren’t ideal. “I think it’s just getting worse, honestly. I’m not sure if she understands the implications of what she said here in America,” she remarked.
After the match, Townsend responded to the situation, stating she “didn’t perceive it that way” when asked about the possibility of a racial undertone in Ostapenko’s comments. She emphasized that the stereotype regarding their community being uneducated is, in reality, quite the opposite.
In an Instagram post, Ostapenko defended herself, denying any intention of making a racial comment when she accused Townsend of being racist. She argued that the disagreements stemmed from how Townsend warmed up and the lack of acknowledgment regarding the match’s incidents.
“I’ve never been racist; I respect everyone, regardless of their background,” Ostapenko stated. “Tennis has its rules, and it’s unacceptable to exploit crowd support to be disrespectful to anyone.”
