Fan’s Sign Sparks Ticket Exchange Amid Controversial Match

Tennis enthusiasts found a humorous twist during a recent match when a fan, Dahlia Lopez Ramsay, brandished a sign critiquing player Genna Ostapenko’s post-match behavior.

Ramsay expressed her intention to “hide Ostapenko’s dreams on free tickets,” as she was in search of a last-minute pass to the well-known tournament for her mother.

Allen Smith, a 50-year-old from Huntsville, Alabama, remarked, “The sign was hilarious, and I thought there was an extra ticket.” He ended up giving Ramsay a pass to see a high-stakes game at Louis Armstrong or Arthur Ashe Stadium, which is valued in the hundreds of dollars.

The sign came after Ostapenko, a Latvian tennis star, had a heated exchange with her opponent, Taylor Townsend, during their second-round match. Ostapenko accused Townsend of displaying “no class” and lacking “education.”

Smith attended the tournament with his wife, who noted, “We witnessed that post-match discussion between the two players.” Reflecting on Ostapenko’s emotional display, Smith said, “It was kind of sad. She’s been around for years, always acting like a clown… she should know better.” His wife added, “Honestly, it was horrifying. She seemed classless, upset about her loss.”

Ramsay, 39, from Sunset Park, explained that she conceived the idea for her sign that morning. She spent about 45 minutes near the ticket booths before being rewarded with tickets.

“When I woke up, I just thought it would be fun,” Ramsay shared. “What catches people’s attention and makes them laugh? That creates generosity.”

She also commented on Ostapenko’s behavior, remarking, “What resonated with people is that the way she treated Taylor Townsend was unprofessional and, frankly, unforgivable.” Ramsay, who has been securing free tickets for several years, noted, “Getting into the US Open for free is pretty easy.”

Ramsay mentioned wanting a complimentary ticket for her mother, who is a devoted tennis fan.

During their match, Ostapenko and Townsend had a tense moment involving a shot that nearly clipped the net but remained playable—a situation referred to as “netcode.” Ostapenko’s frustration flared when Townsend didn’t apologize for the incident.

“After the match, I told her she needed to acknowledge the netball moment at a critical point,” Ostapenko said. “She was quite rude about it, claiming she was very sorry. But in tennis, there are certain unspoken rules that most players adhere to, and this was an unusual experience for me on tour. It doesn’t give her free rein to play however she likes just because it’s her hometown.”