Naomi Osaka Condemns Jelena Ostapenko’s Controversial Comments as US Open Racism Row Erupts

Naomi Osaka strongly criticized Jelena Ostapenko on Thursday following a controversy sparked by the Latvian player’s angry remarks during her US Open loss. Ostapenko faced accusations of racism after a heated on-court tirade directed at African American opponent Taylor Townsend in their second-round match on Wednesday.

Townsend later revealed that Ostapenko accused her of having “no education and no class” in the aftermath of the defeat, remarks that many on social media perceived as racist. Ostapenko denied the allegations in an Instagram post on Wednesday evening.

“Wow how many messages I received that I am a racist,” Ostapenko wrote. “I was NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

She maintained that her frustration was rooted in what she saw as a breach of etiquette, not race.

The incident continued to draw attention at Flushing Meadows on Thursday. Osaka, whose father is Haitian, condemned Ostapenko’s words as “terrible.”

“I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority white sport,” Osaka said after her second-round victory over Hailey Baptiste.
“I know Taylor and I know how hard she’s worked and I know how smart she is, so she’s the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that. It’s ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to. And I don’t know if (Ostapenko) knows the history of it in America. But I know she’s never going to say that ever again in her life. It was just terrible. Like, that’s just really bad.”

Townsend’s mixed doubles partner, men’s singles sixth seed Ben Shelton, also criticized Ostapenko’s remarks.

“Some shocking comments towards (Townsend), and not the smartest thing to say to an American in New York City,” Shelton said. “Kind of speaks for itself, right? Crazy. Crazy statement.”

Despite the backlash, Townsend herself said she did not interpret Ostapenko’s words as racist.

“I didn’t take it in that way, but also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated and all of the things when it’s the furthest thing from the truth,” Townsend said.
“I don’t really take that personally, because I know that it’s so far from the truth and so far from anything. I’m very strong. I’m very proud as a Black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture.”