Taylor Townsend defeated Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 in the U.S. Open second round. Ostapenko allegedly told Townsend she has "no class" and "no education" during a sideline confrontation immediately after the match. A reporter asked Townsend, who is Black, whether those comments had racial undertones; Townsend said she did not take them that way but noted a stigma about being "not educated" in her community. Ostapenko posted on social media denying racism and saying she respects all nations. The players lingered at the net, exchanged words, and Townsend then urged the partisan crowd on.
"I didn't take it in that way, but also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of being 'not educated' and all of the things, when it's the furthest thing from the truth," Townsend responded. "So whether it had racial undertones or not, that's something she can speak on," Townsend said. "The only thing that I'm worried about right now is continuing to move forward through this tournament."
"how many messages I received that I am a racist." "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," she wrote.
"It's competition," Townsend said. "People get upset when they lose."
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