NAOMI OSAKA branded Jelena Ostapenko as “terrible” following her insulting comments aimed at Taylor Townsend, saying: You shouldn’t say those things in the United States.
Ostapenko has denied she was being racist when she accused American Townsend, who is black, of having “no class” and “no education” during a fiery on-court row at the US Open.
The Latvian started finger pointing when the match was concluded because she was unhappy with Townsend’s “disrespectful” warm-up routine.
And the 28-year-old, who was booed off Court 11 by fans, felt Townsend should have apologised for a net cord during a 7-5 6-1 second-round defeat on Wednesday.
Though it did not get phsical, it was certainly a heated confrontation following their third professional head-to-head and Townsend accused Ostapenko of threatening retribution the next time they meet “outside the US.”.
In her post-match press conference, it was suggested by a reporter to Townsend that there may have been a racist undertone to the comments.
Chicago-born Townsend, 29, replied: “No, I don’t know – I can’t speak on what her intentions were.
“I can only speak on how I handled the situation and how I handled it is someone who is upset about the outcome that occurred. You lost and you’re upset about that.
“Saying I have no education and no class, 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.
“I make sure that I do everything that I can to be the best representation possible every time that I step on the court and even off the court.
“So I can’t speak on how she felt about it. That’s something that you’re going to have to ask her.
“I didn’t take it in that way but also 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.”
Ostapenko, a former French Open champion, posted on social media: “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.
“There are some rules in tennis and unfortunately when the crowd is with you, you can’t use it in a disrespectful way to your opponent.
“I always loved to play in the US and US Open but this is the first time someone is approaching the match this disrespectful way.”
Japan ace Osaka – who beat American Hailey Baptiste 6-3 6-1 on the Louis Armstrong Stadium – waded into the row and claimed Ostapenko should not have said such things, even in the beat of the moment.
Especially not in a country where there have been examples over the past century of division and separation between the various white and black communities.
The four-time Grand Slam champion said: “Yeah, I saw that part obviously. It’s been on the TV, like, every 15 minutes.
“I mean it’s really difficult to say. I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player in a majority white sport.
“And granted, 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.
“But if you’re like genuinely asking me about the history of Ostapenko, I don’t think that’s the craziest thing she’s said. I’m going to be honest.
“I think it’s ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to. And I don’t know if she knows the history of it in America.
“But I know she’s never going to say that ever again in her life. I mean it was just terrible. Like that’s just really bad.”
Read the full article here