"If I let comments like that affect me, they win": Taylor Townsend didn't find Ostapenko 'lack of education' quip racist

Taylor Townsend said she had “no regrets” about standing her ground after a fiery post-match handshake dispute with Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open — insisting there is “no beef” but making clear she will not tolerate disrespect.

Townsend defeated Ostapenko to reach the next round at the US Open, but the contest ended in controversy after Ostapenko told the American she had “no education, no class” and threatened to “see what happens if we play each other outside of the U.S.” It was a 7-5, 6-1 win for Townsend and as expected the main topic of conversation in the press conference was the situation.

“I’ve never been one to back down from anything like that,” Townsend said. “She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the U.S. And I said, ‘I’m excited, bring it.’”

The 28-year-old explained that she and Ostapenko have faced each other many times — most recently at Wimbledon in doubles — but there had been no prior animosity. “There’s never been any history. I don’t know how she feels about me, but there’s no beef on my side,” she said.

Townsend added that she was not surprised by Ostapenko’s outburst, saying she chalked it up to frustration once the momentum of the match shifted. “She was playing amazing in the first set — couldn’t miss. I wasn’t disappointed with anything I was doing, she was just playing really well. And then when the tables turned, it suddenly became an issue. I chalk that up to competition, to being upset, and to pulling out all the stops to try and break the momentum. Sometimes people do that, but it is what it is.”

Despite the sharp exchange, Townsend insisted she handled the situation with composure. “You’re not going to insult me, especially when I’ve carried myself with nothing but respect. If I show respect to you, I expect respect as well. At the end of the day, it’s competition, but we still have to respect each other.”

The feud escalated further online when Ostapenko posted that her frustration stemmed from Townsend not apologizing for a net cord and for allegedly breaking warm-up protocol by practicing volleys. Townsend dismissed the claims with a smile.

“Honestly, it’s sports. People talk trash. People say things. People get mad,” she said. “If you expect an apology and you don’t get one, that’s your fault, not mine. Let’s not act like this is new — everyone knows this is something I do. You can go back to my first ever pro tennis match, even juniors. I’ve been doing it forever. It wasn’t targeted at her.”

She called Ostapenko’s social media justification “comical.” “To then go online and justify what you said — you obviously feel some type of way. I don’t feel like I have to explain myself. I think it was self-explanatory. I’m standing in what I said.”

Asked if she had ever experienced similar run-ins, Townsend recalled an incident early in her career at a Challenger in Charlottesville. “The girl I played was so disrespectful — slapping balls to other courts, making me go get them. After I won, she said some nasty things. Asia Muhammad had to take me off court because I was so upset. But I don’t tolerate disrespect. If you have something to say, say it to my face. We can talk it out.”

Townsend stressed that she doesn’t put on a front to appease opponents. “I don’t pretend. I’m real and honest, which is why I can stand here and be real about my feelings. I stand firm in who I am. I don’t back down from confrontation. This is sports — people can feel however they want. But don’t push your expectations onto me.”

Despite the drama, Townsend said she relishes the intensity of these battles. “Absolutely, I enjoy it. I’m an Aries, a fire sign. I wore fire today — maybe that’s why I was fired up. This is one of the reasons I love sports: the tension, how people handle emotions, ups and downs, momentum shifts. That’s what makes it fun.”

She credited her mental toughness as her biggest takeaway from the win. “What I’m most proud of today is that I was strong mentally from start to finish. She was playing very well, hitting her spots, and I just kept fighting. In the past, moments like this might’ve shaken me. Today I was rock solid, and I’m really proud of that.”

Beyond the on-court clash, Townsend also reflected on the importance of representation and the energy of the crowd on Court 11. “Representation is everything. You have to see it to believe it, even if it’s just one. Especially with us honoring Althea Gibson, who paved the way for us all. My sister was a FAMU Rattler, so walking through the tunnel and seeing the band there was really cool — merging the worlds of tennis and HBCU culture.”

She also praised the USTA for celebrating diversity: “I’m really proud of Sean Holcomb and the USTA for being able to bring a piece of our culture and our history into tennis.”

Townsend’s final words returned to the theme of self-respect, particularly after being called “uneducated” and “classless.” For many, those words carried racial undertones, but Townsend said she chose not to interpret them that way.

“I can’t speak on her intentions. I can only speak on how I handled it — as someone upset about losing. Saying I have no education and no class, I don’t take that personally because it’s so far from the truth. If I let comments like that affect me, they win. In that moment, I thought: if my son sees this, how would he view it? And I think he’d be proud. I’m very proud as a Black woman, representing myself and our culture. I make sure every time I step on court, and off court, I’m the best representation I can be.”

For Townsend, the bottom line was simple: “I let my racket talk. I’m the one here moving on to the next round. She’s packed up and gone. I’m here. That’s what matters.”