Taylor Townsend gets into fiery US Open moment with Jelena Ostapenko

Taylor Townsend had flames on the dress she wore for her U.S. Open match against Jelena Ostapenko, which ended up being a fitting outfit choice and foreshadowed the fiery exchange between the two as they were shaking hands after the American toppled the Latvian 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday.

The two exchanged words after Ostapenko took issue with an apparent lack of apology from Townsend after a shot clipped the top of the net but remained in play — also known as a net cord. It was enough to anger Ostapenko and set off a tense back-and-forth between her and Townsend before the American walked away and started to amp up the crowd on Court 11.

Townsend, who moved on to the third round with the win, told ESPN after the match that Ostapenko had told her she has “no class” and “no education and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S.”

5 Taylor Townsend got into a heated exchange with Jeļena Ostapenko. The Tennis Letter/X

5 Taylor Townsend got into a heated exchange with Jeļena Ostapenko. The Tennis Letter/X

The 29-year-old American said during her post-match press conference that she chalked the incident up to “competition” and that there was “no history” between the two or “no beef on my side.”

“I didn’t back down because you’re not going to insult me, especially after I carried myself a certain type of way with nothing but respect. If I show respect to you, I expect respect as well. That’s just the fact of the matter,” Townsend said. “I think that’s tennis, right? No matter what’s going on, it’s me versus you, but at the end of the day, we have to respect each other and respect what happens out on the court. It’s competition.

“It was unfortunate, but, you know, it’s something I can put on my TikTok.”

Ostapenko did not speak with reporters and The Athletic reported that she quickly left in a car with her gear after the match ended.

She addressed the situation in a series of Instagram Story posts, pointing to Townsend’s actions on the net cord as well as the way she warmed up. Ostapenko confirmed that she had expected Townsend to apologize for that and said, “there are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow.”

“If she plays in her homeland it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants,” Ostapenko continued. “In the beginning of the match all players are supposed to start warm up on the baseline. The opponent came out and straight away started the warm up at [the net] which is very disrespectful and against the rules of a tennis match.”

5 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 August 27, 2025. Getty Images

Townsend didn’t have any issues with how her opponent reacted, but didn’t appreciate the idea that you’re supposed to act a certain way because someone else expects that.

“Everyone has a right to feel how they feel,” Townsend said. “The problem is, don’t push your expectations on me. If you expect for someone to apologize and they don’t and you get upset about it, that’s your fault, not mine.”

She also pushed back on the idea that she was doing anything out of the ordinary with her warmups, mentioning that Townsend and Ostapenko have faced one another in singles and doubles matches before.

5 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (L) argues with Taylor Townsend of the United States (R) 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 August 27, 2025. Getty Images

Townsend was asked if she felt there was any racial component to the comments made by Ostapenko toward her, which Townsend said she “didn’t take it in that way.”

Townsend’s win sends her to the third round for the first time in a Grand Slam since 2023, when she did so at the U.S. Open.

The American rallied back from 0-3 to start the first set and then again later in the set when she trailed 3-5 heading into the ninth game. Townsend won three straight games to take the first set and then made quick work of Ostapenko in the second set.

5 Taylor Townsend of the United States celebrates winning match point against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia during their Women’s Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2025 US Open. Getty Images

“The thing that I’m the most proud of is that I let my racket talk,” Townsend said. “Because ultimately, I’m the one here sitting in front of you guys moving on to the next round, getting the next check, moving on, being able to still be here and speak to you guys, and that’s what’s the most important. She’s packed up and she’s gone. I’m here, and that’s the only thing that matters.”

She added: “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.”

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