WATCH: Latvian Tennis Star Explodes at American Rival After US Open Loss – ‘No Education and No Class’
Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko has been forced to deny accusations of racism after she exploded at her victorious Chicago rival Taylor Townsend in a bitter courtside tirade following a U.S. Open defeat that sees her exit the tournament.
Ostapenko, known for her combustible temper, crashed out in straight sets to the American in the second round before launching into a finger-pointing rage in which she told her Black opponent she had “no education and no class.”
The moment quickly went viral, although what was said could not be heard on-air.
Speaking to ESPN, however, Townsend revealed more: “She told me I have no class, no education and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S.”
She added: “I beat her in Canada, outside the US, so let’s see what else she has to say… it’s competition, people get upset when they lose, some people say bad things.”
Ostapenko quickly moved to defend herself after being hit with a wave of online racism allegations for her comments.
“Wow how many messages I received that I am a racist,” she wrote on Instagram. “I was NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from.”
Jelena Ostapenko responds to racism accusations after courtside tirade. (Screengrab via Instagram)
In her press conference following the match, Townsend struck a careful line.
“I didn’t take it in that way, but also that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated,” she said. “I can’t speak on what her intentions were… whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on.”
Townsend added she was “very proud as a Black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture.”
Watch above via X.
