Overview

• After defeating Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 at the US Open, Taylor Townsend was confronted courtside and called “uneducated” and “unclassy.”
• Ostapenko later apologized, saying American English is not her first language and framing her frustration around tennis etiquette over a net-cord point and warm-up positioning.
• In a CBS Mornings interview, Townsend expressed compassion for the language issue but said parts of the response made her question the apology’s sincerity and emphasized she does not tolerate disrespect.
• Because Townsend is a Black American player, the remarks drew accusations of racially coded language in public commentary, with no formal disciplinary action reported.
• Townsend continued her tournament, defeating Mirra Andreeva before losing to Barbora Krejcikova in singles and finishing runner-up in women’s doubles with Katerina Siniakova.