Jelena Ostapenko confronted Taylor Townsend courtside after their US Open match, accusing Townsend of having "no education and no class" because she did not apologise for a shot. The comment prompted accusations of racism; Ostapenko strongly denied racist intent on social media while Townsend said she did not interpret the remarks as racist. Naomi Osaka publicly criticised Ostapenko, calling the remark one of the worst things to say to a Black player in a majority-white sport and defending Townsend's intelligence and hard work. Townsend expressed hope that the attention could be positive for the tournament and the sport.
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-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. But I know she's never going to say that ever again in her life. It was just terrible.
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.
If I'm someone who can draw huge crowds into the stadiums as a name that can bring people to come and buy tickets and support the game, then that's a crown that I'll gladly wear, Townsend said.
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