2025 US Open: Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend Engage in Post-Match Argument

Liputan6.com, Jakarta An unexpected incident rocked the prestigious 2025 US Open tennis tournament, involving two top players, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Taylor Townsend.

The incident took place on August 27, 2025, right after their second-round match on Court 11.

What was supposed to be a post-match handshake instead escalated into a heated verbal argument.

The incident began after Taylor Townsend defeated Jelena Ostapenko with a convincing 7-5, 6-1 score.

Townsend's victory opened a new chapter in their rivalry, which has now become tinged with tension off the court.

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

The second-round match between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend at the US Open ended with Townsend winning convincingly.

However, tensions escalated as the two players approached the net for the traditional handshake.

Instead of parting ways peacefully, they engaged in a heated exchange that escalated into an argument.

According to Taylor Townsend, Jelena Ostapenko directly told her she had "no class" and "no education."

Furthermore, Townsend revealed that Ostapenko even challenged him to "see what happens if we play outside the US."

No. 139 ranked Taylor Townsend spoke on her confrontation and opponent's remarks after upsetting No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko.via ESPN pic.twitter.com/imZIHOwklu

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) August 27, 2025

Following the incident, Jelena Ostapenko took to social media to defend herself and clarify her reasons.

She said that Taylor Townsend was "very disrespectful" for failing to apologize after the ball hit the net at a crucial moment and went into Townsend's court.

"I told my opponent she didn't say sorry, but her answer was that she doesn't have to say sorry at all," Ostapenko, who won the Roland Garros title in 2018, wrote.

Ostapenko also complained about Townsend's behavior of starting his pre-match warm-up near the net, rather than at the baseline, which she called "very disrespectful and against the rules of tennis."

She emphasized that there are unwritten rules in tennis that most players follow, and that this incident was the first of its kind in her career on the professional tour.

Ostapenko posted again on Instagram later on Wednesday to deny her comments had a racial element.

"I was never racist in my life," she wrote. "I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn't matter where you come from."

Townsend, an African-American, was also asked if she thought there was a racial undertone to Ostapenko's comments.

"I didn't take it in that way," Townsend said.

Taylor Townsend responded sarcastically to Jelena Ostapenko's explanation, calling it "funny" and "ridiculous."

Townsend asserted that she didn't need to explain his actions and that he "stands by what I said."

Townsend's win held deep meaning for her, especially as it occurred on HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Day at the US Open, which represents her culture.

For context, Taylor Townsend is currently the world's No. 1 doubles player, although her singles ranking is outside the top 100.

Meanwhile, Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, has a reputation for engaging in confrontations with opponents in the past.