Overview

• Taylor Townsend defeated Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 in the US Open second round at Flushing Meadows.
• The pair argued at the net with finger-pointing as boos rang out, and their exchange was not clearly picked up on nearby microphones.
• Townsend said Ostapenko told her she had no class and no education and to see what happens outside the US; she said she did not take the comments as racist, while some social media users alleged racist tropes.
• Ostapenko issued Instagram statements denying racism and accusing Townsend of disrespectful conduct, citing a lack of apology for a net-cord winner and an unconventional warm-up.
• Townsend, the world No. 1 in doubles and No. 139 in singles, advanced to face fifth seed Mirra Andreeva in the third round, her first Slam third round since 2023.