It began with a second-round upset, but it ended in controversy that extended far beyond the scoreboard. Taylor Townsend’s convincing 7-5, 6-1 victory over Jeļena Ostapenko at the 2025 US Open should have centered on her performance. Instead, the match has become a flashpoint, drawing widespread criticism following Ostapenko’s post-match remarks, which Naomi Osaka now says strike at the core of racial disrespect in professional tennis.
The situation escalated shortly after the handshake, when spectators on Court 11 witnessed Ostapenko exchange words with Townsend. According to Townsend, Ostapenko told her she had “no class” and “no education” and then made a vague threat: “See what happens when we get outside the U.S.” Townsend, who had also defeated the Latvian previously in both Canada and New York, downplayed the exchange, choosing instead to celebrate with the home crowd. Still, the moment set off a torrent of online reaction, criticism from players, and a larger reckoning with coded language often directed at Black athletes in predominantly white sports.
Naomi Osaka Condemns Ostapenko’s Comments, Citing Racial Undertones in Tennis Culture
Naomi Osaka, following her win against Hailey Baptiste, directly addressed the incident during her Thursday press conference. When asked about Ostapenko’s comments, Osaka responded with unequivocal clarity. “I think it’s one of the worst things that you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority-white sport,” she 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.”
Osaka continued with pointed commentary on Ostapenko’s reputation. “If you’re 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. I think it’s ill-timed 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. But I know she’s never going to say that ever again in her life.”
Ostapenko declined to attend a post-match press conference but later issued a statement on Instagram, claiming that Townsend had disrespected her by warming up at the net and failing to acknowledge a net-cord winner. She did not address the racial implications of her remarks. Reactions online were swift, with many pointing to her pattern of confrontations in previous matches.
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For Osaka, the deeper concern lies in the persistence of racially charged language in professional tennis. Her remarks have placed the spotlight not only on this match but on the broader culture within the sport—one that continues to struggle with representation, equity, and accountability.
