‘Wow’: Racism storm erupts, war of words continues after rivals’ fiery post-match US Open stoush

Serial hothead Jelena Ostapenko is embroiled in an ugly scandal at the US Open with a tirade she directed toward Taylor Townsend following a spiteful confrontation in New York on Wednesday carrying possible “racial overtones”.

Townsend prevailed 7-5, 6-1 on Court 11 against the 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, who expressed her displeasure by pointing her finger at, and verbally barraging, her American opponent after the customary post-match handshake.

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Townsend did not take a backward step on the court and nor was she backing down afterwards during a lengthy post-match press conference.

Quizzed as to whether Ostapenko’s taunts that she lacked education and had no class were “dog whistle” comments, Townsend said she could not speak to what the intention of her rival was and had no issues with “trash talk” in tennis or sport more generally.

But the world’s top-ranked doubles player said she would never stand down if confronted on the court, pointing to former clashes against the Australian Rodionova sisters as a demonstration of her willingness not to suffer the antics of others lightly.

“Saying I have no education and nto class, I don’t really take that personally, because I know that it’s so far from the truth and so far from anything. Again, if I allow what other people have to say about me affect me in hat way, then they win. So ultimately, no,” she said.

“I stood up for myself, and I kept in my mind in that moment how I wanted to portray myself and how I wanted to show up, and if my son were to see this interaction, how would he view it? I think he would be proud of the way that I handled the situation.

“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, 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.

“So whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on. The only thing that I’m worried about right now is continuing to move forward through this tournament.

“I know that I’m a fantastic tennis player, and I know that I have a lot of things that I want to accomplish, and this is another stepping stone. It’s another brick that I’m laying on my foundation or on my road to greatness.”

In advancing to the third round of a grand slam in singles for the first time in two years, the world No. 139 became the lowest-ranked American woman to defeat a past Grand Slam champion in singles at a major since Kristie Ahn defeated Ostapenko in 2019 in New York.

“People get upset when they lose.When she was playing well, I didn’t say anything. That just shows class,” Townsend said.

Ostapenko has a history of feisty spats after losses, doing so against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic at Wimbledon four years ago.

The Latvian said she had “zero respect” for Tomljanovic and her behaviour was “terrible” as they walked away from the umpire’s chair, and the Australian replied that Ostapenko was “disgraceful”.

Townsend noted Ostapenko, who has endured a lean year in singles at major level while becoming a prolific winner in doubles, had an “MO” and said “let’s not act like this is new”.

Ostapenko was not requested for press prior to the match — it is not uncommon for interview queries to ask for only the winner — but did not back down when posting on social media about the incident afterwards when dismissing allegations of racism.

“Wow. How many messages I received that I am a racist. 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 wrote.

“There are rules in tennis and unfortunately when the crowd is with you, you can’t use it in a disrespectful way to your opponent. Unfortunately for me, coming from such a small country, I don’t have that huge support and a chance to play in (my) homeland.

“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.”

Ostapenko’s ire was raised when Townsend opted to begin the pre-match warm up at the net, which while unconventional is not against the rules, despite her assertions. And Townsend is adamant she has done this before when warming up.

As to the American’s view of Australians Anastasia and Arina Rodionova, Townsend referred to an incident at a low-tier event in Charlottesville in the infancy of her professional career when saying she had endured “run-ins with both of them”.

“I’ve had that incident one time at a challenger many years ago in Charlottesville. Asia Muhammad actually had to take me off the court because I was so upset,” she said.

“The girl that I played was so disrespectful. It was a $50,000 (event). There are no ball kids. There are no ball people. (The) girl was slapping balls to the third and fourth court. I have to go walk and get the balls.

“I ended up winning and said some really nasty things. Again, it was one of the things — I’m just not going to tolerate disrespect. You’re not going to disrespect me in my face.

“I’m a firm believer and I’m the type of person where if you have something to say, you feel some type of way, you say it to my face, and we can talk about it, we can hash it out.”

Earlier, Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare to reach the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka prepared to step up her title bid.

Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, recovered from going a set down against American qualifier Zachary Svajda to complete a 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.

The 38-year-old Serbian legend had not played since his semi-final exit at Wimbledon in July before arriving in New York, skipping most of the North American hardcourt swing.

Djokovic said that while not at his best, he is hoping to play himself into form as the tournament progresses.

“That’s what I’m hoping, the deeper I go into the tournament the better I feel about my game,” he said.

“Obviously a bit different for me the last couple of years body-wise. I get the wear and tear quicker than I used to do.”

Djokovic’s victory sees him into the third round at the US Open for a record-equalling 19th time, where he will face either Britain’s Cameron Norrie or Argentina’s Francisco Comesana.

Norrie is one of only two British men left in the draw after fifth-seeded compatriot Jack Draper withdrew due to injury earlier Wednesday.

Draper reached the semi-finals in New York last year but missed warm-up events in Cincinnati and Toronto this year while nursing a bone bruise in his left arm.

“I tried my very best to be here and give myself every chance to play but the discomfort in my arm has become too much and I have to do what is right and look after myself,” Draper wrote on social media.

Draper’s second round opponent, Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, was given a walkover into the third round.

The withdrawal of Draper clears Jannik Sinner’s path towards defending his title. Sinner was due to face Draper in the quarter-finals.

Sinner’s half of the draw also opened up with 12th seed Casper Ruud falling to world No.107 Raphael Collignon of Belgium 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in three and a half hours.

Last year’s runner-up, and the fourth seed, Taylor Fritz needing a similar amount of time to see of South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-4 with Harris fighting until the very end, saving four match points in the fourth sets.

American compatriot Frances Tiafoe, seeded 17, also progressed with a four-set defeat of qualifier Martin Damm. Tiafoe won 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (8/10), 7-5.

In other men’s action on Wednesday, Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz looks to keep his campaign rolling with a night game against Italy’s Mattia Bellucci.

Zverev moves into US Open 2nd round | 00:46

- Raducanu rolls on -

In the women’s draw meanwhile, world number one Sabalenka also faces a night game, taking on Russia’s Polina Kudermetova on Arthur Ashe.

In other games on Wednesday, Britain’s Emma Raducanu continued her solid start to the tournament after dispatching Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-1.

Tjen had become the first Indonesian player to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam in 21 years and followed that up with a first-round upset of 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova.

But she was beaten comfortably by Raducanu, who is aiming to recapture the US Open title she won as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021.

Raducanu will face either ninth seed Elena Rybakina or Tereza Valentova in the next round.

The unseeded Britain, who is back to full fitness after a series of injury problems in recent seasons, is relishing the prospect of facing a player of the caliber of 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina.

“She’s a top opponent. She’s won Wimbledon. She’s been at the top of the game for so long and very dominant and has big weapons, has a huge serve and big groundstrokes,” she said. “So I do want to see how my game suits and fits against the top.” While Tjen headed for the exit, another player from Southeast Asia, the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, also saw her tournament come to an end.

Eala, the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match with her defeat of 14th seed Clara Tauson on Sunday, was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.

Fourth seed Jessica Pegula is also into the third round after beating Russian Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3. There was a win too for veteran Victoria Azarenka, the 36-year-old two-time Australian Open champion from Belarus, who defeated Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3.

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