Ostapenko told Townsend she had “no education” as she pointed her finger at her opponent following an early-tournament loss<\/a> to the American. She wrote on social media that English is not her native language, “so when I said education, I was speaking only about what I believe (is) tennis etiquette, but I understand how the words I used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court.”<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/a><\/p>\n Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (R) argues with Taylor Townsend of the United States (L) following their Women’s Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 27, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Clive Brunskill\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Townsend reacted to the apology after she won her doubles match on Saturday. She said she was unaware of it.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s nice that she did that, that she apologized,” Townsend said. “That\u2019s fine. That\u2019s cool. At the end of the day, I think that it\u2019s a learning lesson for her. … It\u2019s great that she went to social media and apologized. But I really hope that, from this, she can take that like, hey, you can\u2019t control people and it\u2019s better just to focus on yourself.”<\/p>\n Townsend said she hadn\u2019t personally heard from Ostapenko. Townsend defeated the No. 25-ranked Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1. The two came face-to-face after the match with Ostapenko delivering the insults.<\/p>\n Je\u013cena Ostapenko of Latvia during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Aug. 24, 2025, in New York.\u00a0 (Vera Nieuwenhuis, File\/AP Photo)<\/p>\n COCO GAUFF FIRES BACK AT CRITICS QUESTIONING HER GLAM TENNIS LOOKS AT US OPEN: ‘I’M A HUMAN’<\/a><\/p>\n Townsend, who is Black, was asked by a reporter if Ostapenko\u2019s comments<\/a> at the net had racial undertones.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I didn\u2019t take it in that way, but also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of being \u2018not educated\u2019 and all of the things, when it\u2019s the furthest thing from the truth,” Townsend replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n “So, whether it had racial undertones or not, that\u2019s something she can speak on. The only thing that I\u2019m worried about right now is continuing to move forward through this tournament.”<\/p>\n Taylor Townsend of the United States in action against Jelena Ostapenko in the second round of the women\u2019s singles at the US Open at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Mike Frey\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n Ostapenko said immediately after the match she was upset Townsend didn\u2019t apologize after being helped by a net cord during a point. She also took issue with Townsend warming up before the match up at the net, instead of at the baseline.<\/p>\n The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s\u00a0sports coverage on X<\/a> and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n![\"Taylor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/taylor-townsend-jelena-ostapenko.jpg\")
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