Taylor Townsend, Jelena Ostapenko Remain Uncommunicative After US Open Incident

Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko were involved in a contentious exchange following their US Open second-round match, where Ostapenko accused Townsend of having 'no class' and 'no education,' sparking allegations of racism. Ostapenko later apologized on Instagram, explaining that her comments referred to tennis etiquette and expressing regret for any offense caused beyond the sport, but she has not reached out to Townsend directly. Townsend, focused on her ongoing matches, stated she was unaware of Ostapenko's apology and has not heard from her, emphasizing her goal to concentrate on her performance. The incident drew mixed reactions from the tennis community, with some players like Venus Williams praising Townsend's handling of the situation, while others, including Naomi Osaka, viewed Ostapenko's remarks as deeply offensive. Despite the controversy, Townsend advanced to the fourth round in singles and continued to perform well in doubles. Ostapenko was eliminated in doubles and has expressed intentions to learn and grow from the episode.