Jelena Ostapenko apologized on social media on Saturday three days after telling American Taylor Townsend that she was “no class” and “no schooling” following her second match on the US Open.
Black Townsend and Latvian native Ostapenko had a fierce change after Townsend gained in straight units on Wednesday. After their match, Townsend mentioned Ostapenko had gone on to her with out apologizing for the netcode, after which used insulting language and questioned Townsend’s intelligence and character.
Ostapenko’s phrases sparked accusations of racism. Coco Gouf and Naomi Osaka amongst those that got here publicly to defend Townsend. Osaka referred to as Townsend saying that Ostapenko “one of many worst issues you may say to a majority of White Sports activities black tennis gamers.”
Ostapenko wrote in her Instagram story on Saturday: “I needed to apologise for what I mentioned in a two-round singles match. English just isn’t my native language. After I mentioned schooling, I used to be solely speaking about what I imagine as tennis etiquette, however I perceive how I could make many individuals off the tennis court docket.
“I’m grateful on your assist as I proceed to be taught and develop as an individual and tennis participant. I look ahead to coming again to New York and subsequent yr.”
When requested Wednesday if he thought there was a racial lining in Ostapenko’s feedback, Townsend mentioned, “We did not take it that means,” however mentioned, “it is a stigma in our neighborhood of ‘uneducated’ and that is the farthest from the reality.”
Townsend, who has been disrupting No. 5 Seed Mira Andreva on Friday evening to achieve the US Open Spherical 16, has obtained numerous messages of assist from buddies and gamers, saying he’ll proceed to face as much as her values.
“Typically, I am anticipating society, particularly folks of colour, we’re silent. Or, after we communicate up, and in such a second, we may be very strategic. “It doesn’t matter what, regardless of how a lot consideration is paid, I do not assume you may behave in your self, make you cheerful who you’re, and nobody can take you out of your character, and by no means allow you to be who you’re as an individual.”
On Thursday, Townsend mentioned he had by no means heard of it from Ostapenko for the reason that sport. It’s unknown if they’ve communicated since.
