Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

‘That’s just really bad’ – Naomi Osaka Opens Up on the Post-Match Interaction Between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend at 2025 US Open

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka also came out with her honest opinion over post-match raw between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend on August 28. Townsend defeated 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 in second-round encounter a day earlier, but the real tension came shortly after match point when the duo involved in a heated argument. The Latvian showed her finger towards the American ace and crowd captured this while sitting in the stands.

Also Read: ‘She Told Me I Have No Class’ – US Open 2025 Gets Heated as Taylor Townsend Fires Back at Jelena Ostapenko After Intense Verbal Outburst

Naomi Osaka Condemns Jelena Ostapenko Over Racist Comment to Taylor Townsend

Naomi Osaka is not happy with the behavior of Jelena Ostapenko against a Black tennis player. The Japanese ace said using words like “no education” and “no class” against Townsend is totally wrong. Townsend, who is Black, had heated argument with Ostapenko and the whole matter spread all over the tennis world. Experts and top Tennis playesr opened up on the matter including Osaka.

Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko got in a heated interaction after their second round match at the US Open.

Townsend is on to the third round. pic.twitter.com/cOIYzoyfmG
— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2025

Meanwhile, Ostapenko cleared her intention through Instagram post where she accused the American of being “disrespectful”. The Latvian said she got angry from Townsend’s refusal to apologize after winning a point when her ball clipped the net and stayed in play. Townsend revealed the entire drama during the press conference and called it ‘racial abuse’.

Naomi Osaka gave her honest opinion on it and she felt that Ostapenko’s comments during the altercation were not in good taste. Meanwhile, the Latvian confirmed in another statement that she had never been racist in her life.

“It’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport,” Naomi Osaka said. “I know Taylor and I know how hard she’s worked and I know how smart she is, so she’s the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that.”

Naomi Osaka on the Taylor Townsend & Jelena Ostapenko situation at U.S. Open:

“It’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority White sport.”

“I think it's ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to. And I don't know if… pic.twitter.com/EQ6c5sIYIX
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 28, 2025

“If you’re like genuinely asking me about the history of Ostapenko, I don’t think that’s the craziest thing she’s said. I’m going to be honest,” the Japanese ace added with a smile.

“I think it’s ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to. And I don’t know if she knows the history of it in America. I know she’s never going to say that ever again in her life. But yeah, it was just terrible. That’s just really bad.”

Osaka was revealed about the actual cause of the whole altercation where Ostapenko was expecting an apology from the American ace for a net cord. The four-time major champion said that she would not expect an apology from an opponent if she faces the same.

“I definitely wouldn’t care to the point where it would affect me that much that I get very angry,” the two-time US Open champion said. “It’s up to the person whether they apologise or not, but if it’s really close, I can see why they don’t apologise.”

Osaka stormed to the third round at Flushing Meadows after a 6-3, 6-1 victory over American Hailey Baptiste. The Japanese ace reached the third round for the first time since 2021 and this year, she wants to change the previous numbers. Osaka has won the US Open two times and her recent performance at hard court is justifying that she will have a deep run this time.

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Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.