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New Delhi: Jelena Ostapenko has apologised to Taylor Townsend over remarks she made during a heated on-court argument earlier this week. After losing to the American, she told her she had "no class" and "no education". The tension between the two escalated when a net cord favoured Townsend. Earlier, the 25th seed Ostapenko said she had no interest in apologising.
Following the incident, fellow stars criticised her comments. Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, said that calling Townsend uneducated was "one of the worst things you could say to a black tennis player."
Ostapenko posted an Instagram story without naming Townsend, saying, "Hi all - I wanted to apologise for some of the things I said during my second-round singles match."
She added, "English is not my native language, so when I said education I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette. But I understand how the words used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court. I appreciate the support as I continue to learn and grow as a person and a tennis player. Goodbye New York, and I look forward to being back next year."
The incident occurred at the end of the match when both players went to shake hands. Ostapenko confronted Townsend for not apologising for a net cord during the first set and called her out for having "no education". It's not a rule that a player must apologise for a net cord, but some feel it is courteous to do so.
After the incident, the on-court microphone picked up the 29-year-old American telling the Latvian to "take the L(loss)." Following this, Townsend celebrated wildly with the crowd, and when Ostapenko departed, she was booed.
The Latvian criticised the American as "disrespectful" on Instagram and later clarified that she was not making any accusations of racism. She wrote, "I was never racist in my life. I respect all nations of people in the world; for me, it doesn't matter where you come from." She also declined to carry out media duties after her defeat, citing medical issues, which ended her US Open campaign in singles. paign in singles.
