Taylor Townsend Says Jeļena Ostapenko Took Classless Dig at Her After U.S. Open Match

Townsend shared what her opponent said to her after their contested match.

Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend had a heated confrontation after their second-round U.S. Open match. / The Tennis Letter/Screengrab

American Taylor Townsend upset world No. 25 Jeļena Ostapenko literally and figuratively in their second round match at the U.S. Open on Wednesday. Townsend won the heated contest 7–5, 6–1, leaving Ostapenko pretty upset afterwards.

There appeared to be a confrontation at the net as the two opponents met to shake hands. Ostapenko apparently said something to Townsend after the handshake, causing Townsend to respond. The heated argument began there, sparking boos from the crowd. They spoke for a while until Townsend got her much deserved applause from the crowd.

It was fitting that Townsend had fire on the end of her tennis dress for this fiery moment.

Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko got into an argument after their match at the U.S. Open 👀 pic.twitter.com/od0GwFykBd

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 27, 2025

Townsend detailed the pretty classless things Ostapenko said to her after the match during her on-court interview.

"It's competition, people get upset when they lose," Townsend said. "Some people say bad things. She told me I have no class, I have no education and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S."

After a heated second round match at the US Open, American Taylor Townsend calls out her opponent, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko:

"She told me I have no class, I have no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S." pic.twitter.com/FikAWiitcO

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 27, 2025

A little while after the match, Ostapenko began posting her side of the situation on her Instagram stories. It sounds like Ostapenko wasn't happy with how Townsend hit a net shot and didn't apologize, and she was also frustrated with how her opponent warmed up. In Ostapenko's opinion, Townsend broke some of the unwritten rules of tennis.

Ostapenko on Instagram pic.twitter.com/gZGERk9kq4

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 27, 2025

In the end, Townsend will move on to the third round of competition on Friday, while Ostapenko will go home. We'll see if there's any additional fallout from these two.

---

More on Sports Illustrated

feed