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Naomi Osaka has criticised Jelena Ostapenko’s choice of words in her heated post-match altercation with Taylor Townsend at the US Open, calling them “one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport”.
“It’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport,” the four-time Grand Slam champion said. “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,” she added.
Townsend defeated Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 in a tense second-round clash, but the spotlight quickly shifted to a verbal exchange at the net.
Ostapenko, visibly agitated, repeatedly wagged her finger at Townsend, who later hinted at possible “racial undertones” in their exchange during her press conference. The issue was reportedly caused due to Townsend’s reluctance to apologise after winning a point after the ball hit the net.
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