Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko has issued a public apology after her behaviour during her second-round loss to American player Taylor Townsend at the US Open 2025.
According to statements shared by Ostapenko on Instagram, she admitted that her choice of words following the match may have offended people.
“English is not my native language, so when I said education, I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette, but I understand how the words I used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court,” she wrote.
She added that she is still “learning and growing as a person and a tennis player.”
What happened on court
The match took place on Wednesday, 27 August 2025 in New York, which was early Thursday, 28 August 2025 in South African time. Townsend defeated Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1.
The incident began when a “net cord” occurred. A net cord is when a ball clips the top of the net during play but still lands inside the opponent’s side. Because this type of shot is considered lucky, players often raise a hand as a gesture of apology. Townsend did not do this, which angered Ostapenko.
When the match ended, their handshake was tense. Ostapenko told Townsend she had “no class” and “no education.”
Townsend replied by telling her to “take the L,” which is slang for “accept the loss.”
The crowd reaction and fallout
The argument did not stop at the net. Near Ostapenko’s chair, the players exchanged more words.
Townsend raised her arms to pump up the New York crowd, which responded by cheering for her and booing Ostapenko as she walked off.
“She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play outside of the US. I said, ‘I’m excited, bring it on,’” Townsend later told reporters.
Ostapenko defended herself in her Instagram post, saying her words were only about the net cord incident and not meant as a personal attack. She denied any racial undertones in her language, writing:
“I was never racist in my life. I respect all nations of people in the world.”
Japanese star Naomi Osaka, who advanced to the third round after beating Hailey Baptiste, said the comments were especially hurtful given the context.
“I think it’s one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player in a majority white sport,” Osaka told reporters.
Osaka also noted that Ostapenko has a history of making controversial remarks and said this episode was “ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to.”
Could Jelena Ostapenko face punishment?
Ostapenko has a record of being fined for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
In 2022, she was fined $10,000 (about R185,000) at Wimbledon for throwing a water bottle and knocking over her chair after losing a match.
In professional tennis, “unsportsmanlike conduct” is a broad rule that covers behaviour such as verbal abuse, aggressive gestures, or disrespectful remarks.
Violations can result in fines or formal warnings from tournament organisers.
With her track record, Ostapenko may face further disciplinary measures from the US Open.
