Tennis player responds to racism allegations after row erupts at US Open

Latvian tennis player, Jelena Ostapenko, has issued her response to racism allegations after she erupted at American player, Taylor Townsend, at the US Open on Wednesday (27 August).

After shaking hands following the match, which saw Townsend win 7-5 6-1, the pair appeared to get into a heated argument, which was reportedly sparked after Ostapenko told Townsend that she should say sorry for a shot that clipped the top of the net but stayed in play, which is known as a net cord.

Post-match footage shows Townsend appearing to tell her opponent, 'No, I don't have to say sorry', before Ostapenko pointed her finger back at her as loud boos roared from the crowd.

Another clip showed Townsend explaining to Ostapenko, 'You can learn to take a loss better', before calmly walking away.

Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko and US star Taylor Townsend made headlines following their US Open match yesterday (27 August) (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

As the exchange came to an end, Ostapenko appeared to tell Townsend, 'You have no education' three times.

While Ostapenko didn't do a post-match news conference, Townsend did speak to reporters about the situation, saying that her opponent told her she has 'no class, I have no education and to see what happens when we get outside the US, so I'm looking forward to it'.

"I mean, I beat her in Canada, outside the US I beat her in New York [inside] the US, so let's see what else she has to say," she added.

When asked if there were racial undertones to Ostapenko's on-court remarks, Townsend replied: "I'm very proud as a black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture.

"I make sure that I do everything that I can to be the best representation possible every time that I step on the court and even off the court.

"So I can't speak on how she felt about it. That's something that you're going to have to ask her. I didn't take it in that way, but also, that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated and all of the things when it's the furthest thing from the truth."

Townsend said Ostapenko told her she has 'no class' and 'no education' and to 'see what happens when we get outside the US' (Clive Brunskill / Staff / Getty Images)

Townsend assured: "There's no beef. But again, like you guys saw, 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."

Ostapenko did, however, later take to Instagram to issue a series of statements on the matter, with one directly responding to allegations of racism against Townsend - who, as we say, did very clearly state that she 'can't speak on how [Ostapenko] felt' about the situation.

(Instagram/@jelenaostapenko)

"Wow how many messages I received that I am a racist. 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. There are some rules in tennis and unfortunately when the crowd is with you you can't use it in disrespectful way to your opponent," Ostapenko wrote.

Her message concluded: "Unfortunately for me coming from such a small country I don't have that huge support and a chance to play in homeland. I always loved to play in the US and US OPEN, but this is the first time someone is approaching the match this disrespectful way."

LADbible Group has approached Ostapenko's reps for additional comment.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact Stop Hate UK by visiting their website www.stophateuk.org.