Overview

• After Townsend’s second-round win, she said Ostapenko told her she had “no class” and “no education” and warned to “see what happens when we get outside the U.S.”
• Osaka called those words “one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player” in a majority-white sport, praising Townsend’s character and work.
• Ostapenko denied racist intent on Instagram, attributing her anger to Townsend not apologizing for a net-cord winner, a courtesy gesture rather than a rule.
• Players weighed in across the grounds: Ben Shelton labeled the remarks a “crazy statement,” Coco Gauff said they shouldn’t be said even in the heat of defeat, and Aryna Sabalenka said she tried to help calm Ostapenko.
• Tournament officials said Ostapenko skipped a subsequent news conference for medical reasons, and there have been no announced disciplinary actions.