Featured Image Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Topics: Sport, US News, World News, News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Sport, US News, World News, News
Tennis fans have been left outraged after a pair of players violently butted-heads on the court of the US Open yesterday.
The second-round match saw American athlete Taylor Townsend take on Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia, whom she defeated 7-5, 6-1.
Following 29-year-old Taylor's almighty win, the pair were seen approaching one another on the court to shake hands.
Seconds later, however, yelling could be heard throughout the stands, with both Taylor and Ostapenko seen passionately waving their hands at one another.
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During the heated interaction, the sportswomen are understood to have exchanged some passionate words, during which the European told the American that she should 'apologise' for a shot that clipped the net yet stayed in play.
According to The Athletic, Taylor was rebuked with some harsh words uttered by Ostapenko after refusing.
"No, I don't have to say sorry," she appeared to be saying in post-match footage shared by ESPN, with boos later resounding through the stands.
In response, Ostapenko shakes her head several times, attempting to continue the argument. The Latvian tennis star then appears to tell Taylor three separate times: "You have no education."
On-court microphones from BBC Sport then picked up the American telling her competitor to 'take the L [loss]'.
Discussing both her win and Ostapenko's blow-out, Taylor told ESPN: "People get upset when they lose. Some people say bad things."
She claimed Ostapenko told her she has 'no class,' 'no education,' and 'to see what happens when we get outside the U.S.
"So, I'm looking forward to it," Taylor continued. "I mean, I beat her in Canada, outside the U.S. I beat her in New York [inside] the U.S., so let's see what else she has to say."
Unsurprisingly, several disappointed sports fans have since shared their thoughts on the matter on social media, with many agreeing that Ostapenko's behaviour was out of order.'
"Ostapenko is such a sore loser," one wrote on X (formerly Twitter), while another penned: "That's just terrible..."
"Inside the US or not...she won either way," a third added of Taylor, and a fourth hit out, calling her alleged comments on Taylor's education 'disgusting'.
Asked during her final interview what she believes sparked Ostapenko's sudden rage, Taylor explained that her competitor was initially playing 'really well' before the 'tables turned'.
"I chalk it up to being upset and, you know, she pulled out all the stops to try and break the momentum," she continued.
"Sometimes people do that, but it is what it is."
Taylor went on to claim she expects no apology, as she reiterated: "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 has also spoken out on the incident, maintaining that Taylor was 'very disrespectful' in refusing to apologise after 'she had a net ball in a very deciding moment'.
The Latvian wrote on her social media: "Her answer was that she doesn't have to say sorry at all.
"There are some rules of tennis which most of the players follow and it was first time ever that this happened to me on tour. If she plays in her homeland it doesn't mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants."
She also strongly denied any racial undertones to her remarks, writing on her Instagram Story: "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.
"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."
Taylor also said she 'couldn't speak' for Ostapenko regarding her feelings during a press conference.
LADbible Group has approached Ostapenko's reps for additional comment.