Jelena Ostapenko issued a public apology for the verbal spat that unfolded with Taylor Townsend on Wednesday on the US Open. Following a 7-5, 6-1 loss within the second spherical, the Latvian clashed with Townsend and mentioned that she had “no schooling” and “no class”, which sparked a racism controversy.
Townsend later said that regardless that she will not be certain if Ostapenko’s feedback had been meant to be racist, she considered it as being suggestive of the stigma round black individuals being uneducated. On August 29, she scored a exceptional victory over Mirra Andreeva to progress to the fourth spherical of the event.
Ostapenko, who had earlier clarified that she was not racist along with her feedback, issued an emotional apology by way of Instagram on Saturday. She addressed how her phrases won’t have come out appropriately, as English will not be her native language, however nonetheless took accountability for the motion.
“Hello all – I wished to apologize for a few of the issues I mentioned throughout my second-round singles match. English will not be my native language, so once I mentioned schooling, I used to be talking solely about what I consider as tennis etiquette, however I perceive how the phrases I used might have offended many individuals past the tennis courtroom. I admire the help as I proceed to be taught and develop as an individual and a tennis participant. Goodbye New York and I stay up for being again subsequent yr,” she wrote.
Naomi Osaka additionally sided with Taylor Townsend and criticized Ostapenko’s feedback on the American.
Taylor Townsend recollects incident that taught her to be illiberal to disrespect
Taylor Townsend, through the press convention after her second-round match on the US Open, recalled a previous occasion that led her to by no means tolerate disrespect. She narrated the story of a Challenger 50 occasion in Charlottesville a few years in the past, the place the opponent behaved poorly along with her and made ‘nasty’ feedback.
Townsend mentioned:
“There [were] no ball children. There [were] no ball individuals. And woman was slapping balls to the third and fourth courtroom. I’ve to go stroll and get the balls. And, , I ended up successful and, , mentioned some actually, like, nasty issues. And once more, it was one of many issues the place I am like, I am simply not gonna tolerate disrespect. You are not gonna disrespect me in my face.”
The 27-year-old is gearing as much as face two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova in her first fourth-round match on the US Open since 2019.
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Edited by Pritha Ghosh
