Queens, NY—Things turned heated at the U.S. Open on Wednesday when Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko engaged in a tense, face-to-face exchange after their second-round match on Court 11. What started as a standard post-match handshake quickly escalated into a courtside confrontation.
According to Townsend, Ostapenko accused her of lacking “class” and “education” and even warned her to “see what happens” outside the United States. The verbal spat occurred immediately following Townsend’s 7-5, 6-1 win over the 25th-seeded Latvian and 2017 French Open champion.
“She was upset she lost,” said Townsend, a Chicago native. “When she was playing well, I didn’t say a word. That’s what class is.”
The two players lingered at the net longer than usual, with Ostapenko wagging her finger during the exchange. Once the argument ended, Townsend turned to the crowd, rallying the home fans with a wave of her arm, drawing loud cheers from the stands.
Wednesday’s victory marked a milestone for Townsend. The current WTA doubles No. 1 is enjoying her best singles run at a Grand Slam since 2023. Ranked No. 139 in singles, she became the lowest-ranked American woman to defeat a former Grand Slam champion at a major since Kristie Ahn upset — coincidentally — Ostapenko at the 2019 U.S. Open.
Townsend later reminded fans of her previous win over Ostapenko, noting their head-to-head record was now 2-1 in her favor. “So let’s see what else she has to say,” she remarked during her on-court interview, still fired up from the match.
Earlier in the contest, tensions had already been building. During one of Ostapenko’s lengthy locker room breaks, Townsend kept warm by jumping rope courtside — a light-hearted moment in an otherwise charged atmosphere.
Ostapenko is no stranger to on-court drama. In 2021, she clashed with Alja Tomljanovic at Wimbledon after being accused of faking a medical timeout. Wednesday’s confrontation adds to a growing list of heated moments for the fiery Latvian.
For Townsend, the drama may have been unexpected, but the result was clear — a commanding win, a passionate crowd behind her, and a spot in the third round.
