Osaka on Ostapenko: One of Worst Things You Can Say to a Black Player

By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 28, 2025
Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty

 NEW YORK—Talk is cheap, but trash talk can be costly.

Asked her reaction to the heated exchange between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend at the conclusion of their US Open match Wednesday night, Naomi Osaka did not pull punches.

Two-time US Open champion Osaka called Ostapenko’s comments “one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player.”

In case you missed it, doubles world No. 1 Townsend upset the 25th-seeded Ostapenko, 7-5, 6-1 to reach the US Open third round.

In the test post-match handshake, Ostapenko, who was upset her opponent did not apologize for a net-cord shot, could be heard blasting Townsend saying “you have no education…wait until we are outside the U.S.”

Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko got in a heated interaction after their second round match at the US Open.

Townsend is on to the third round. pic.twitter.com/cOIYzoyfmG

— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2025

Taylor Townsend recounted her interaction with No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko after their second round match at the US Open.

Townsend advanced to the third round after her upset win 👏 pic.twitter.com/jFvQHE8iTw

— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2025

Osaka powered past Hailey Baptiste, 6-3, 6-1 on Louis Armstrong Stadium to advance to the US Open third round. In her post-match presser, Osaka was asked her reaction to Ostapenko’s words.

“I mean, it’s really difficult to say. I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport,” Osaka said. “And granted, I know Taylor and I know how hard she’s worked and I know how smart she is, so she’s the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that.

“But if you’re like genuinely asking me about the history of Ostapenko, I don’t think that’s the craziest thing she’s said. I’m going to be honest.”

Indeed, Ostapenko clearly did not attend the Stefan Edberg school of sportsmanship. In fact, she’s known for the famed “drive by” handshake after some losses and for calling out opponents sometimes on court.

Ostapenko and Ajla Tomljanovic famously went at it at the 2021 Wimbledon when the Aussie accused the Latvian of faking an injury to take a medical timeout while trailing 4-0 in the third set.

“You know she’s lying,” Tomljanovic told the chair umpire at Wimbledon.

“If you think I’m faking it, you can talk with the physio,” Ostapenko said. “Your behavior is terrible. You have zero respect… You’re the worst player on tour.”

In another Wimbledon match, Ostapenko once called out both Camila Giorgi and her father, Sergio Giorgi, claiming the elder Giorgi was shouting and coughing during her serve motion in an effort to distract her.

Of course, Osaka herself is no stranger to post-match controversy. After bowing to 18-year-old Canadian wild card Vicky Mboko in the Montreal final earlier this month, Osaka neglected to congratulate the teenager in her brief runner-up speech that spanned less than 20 seconds. To her credit, Osaka did apologize to Mboko, who views Osaka as her tennis hero, the next day.

Today, Osaka ripped Ostapenko’s post-match comment to Townsend as “terrible.”

“I think it’s ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to. And I don’t know if she knows the history of it in America,” Osaka said. “But I know she’s never going to say that ever again in her
life. But, yeah, I mean, it was just terrible. Like, that’s just really bad.”

On Instagram, Ostapenko shot down suggestions her remarks were racially motivated, writing “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.”

Ostapenko reiterated her belief that there are basic rules of respect players follow.

“There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was first time ever that this happened to me on tour,” Ostapenko posted. “If she plays in her homeland it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.”

When Townsend was asked if she felt Ostapenko’s “no education” taunt was delivered with racial overtones in her presser, the American replied “I can’t speak on what her intention were, I can only speak on how I handled the situation.”

Townsend went on to say she refuses to let Ostapenko, or any opponent, define her character.

“Saying I have no education and no class, I don’t really take that personally, because I know that it’s so far from the truth and so far from anything,” Townsend said. “Again, if I allow what other
people have to say about me affect me in that way, then they win. So ultimately, no.

“I stood up for myself, and I kept in my mind in that moment how I wanted to portray myself and how I wanted to show up, and if my son were to see this interaction, how would he view it? I think he would be proud of the way that I handled the situation.

“I’m very strong. I’m very proud as a Black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture. I make sure that I do everything that I can to be the best representation possible every time that I step on the court and even off the court.”

Ostapenko refutes her “no education” taunt was said with racial animosity and said her anger and frustration was fueled by Townsend declining to apologize for a net cord and for “very disrespectful” behavior on court.