“I’m proud the way I handled myself.”

Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko received right into a heated confrontation following their tennis match on the U.S. Open, and now everyone seems to be weighing in.

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What occurred between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko?

Townsend beat Ostapenko within the second spherical of the competitors this week, however the rigidity between the 2 carried over after the sport. 

Video captured Townsend approaching her opponent after the match to shake her hand, as is the norm. But issues shortly devolved into one thing foul as Ostapenko appeared to be angrily berating the opposite participant.

“She told me that I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the U.S. And I said, you know, I’m excited. Bring it,” Townsend later informed reporters. 

In one other clip, Townsend could possibly be heard responding, “You need to learn how to take a loss. Thank you so much. Great job. You’re a great player.”

Ostapenko’s aspect of the story

Ostapenko later posted a sequence of Instagram Stories claiming that she referred to as Townsend disrespectful for declining to apologize over having “a net ball in a very deciding moment.”

A web ball happens when the ball hits the highest of the web however stays in play. It usually alters how the ball continues course and makes it tough for the opposite participant to return it. It’s not a purposeful transfer, and scoring some extent that manner is commonly thought-about extra associated to luck than talent, making it customary (however not required) to supply some form of apologetic gesture.

“Her answer was that she doesn’t have to say sorry at all,” Ostapenko wrote. “There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was first time ever that this happened to me on tour. If she plays in her homeland it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.”

Racist undertones and reactions

The confrontation—and particularly the phrase decisions Ostapenko used—sparked accusations of racism. Although Townsend herself stated that’s one thing solely her opponent can communicate on, she did acknowledge the undertones of the remarks.

“That has been a stigma in our community of being not educated and all the things, when it’s the furthest thing from the truth,” she stated.

Folks on-line picked up on that as nicely, and have been usually much less measured than Townsend of their responses.

Ostapenko denied any whiff of racism on Instagram, claiming, “I was NEVER racist in my life” and once more accused Townsend of being disrespectful through the match.

Fellow tennis participant Aryna Sabalenka was additionally requested concerning the interplay between Ostapenko and Townsend. She famous having spoken to Ostapenko after the match, and agreed with one reporter’s suggestion that there could also be different issues occurring in her life that spilled over onto the court.

“I just think she sometimes can lose control over her emotions,” she stated. “I really hope that one day she will figure herself and handle herself better.”

Townsend, in the meantime, is taking issues in stride and maintaining the concentrate on what issues.

“The thing that I’m the most proud of is that I let my racket talk. Because ultimately I’m the one here sitting in front of you guys, moving on to the next round, getting the next check, moving on, being able to still be here and speak to you guys,” she stated. “And that’s what’s the most important. She’s packed up and she’s gone. I’m here.”

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