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Taylor Townsend (left) and Jelena Ostapenko got into a tense argument after a tennis match at the US Open on Wednesday.

Taylor, a Black American, argued with the Latvian tennis player on the court after Taylor won their second-round match 7-5, 6-1 to advance to the third round.

During the post-match press conference, reporters asked Taylor what Jelena said to her on the court.

Photo of Taylor Townsend
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Taylor, who is No. 1 in the world in doubles, said Jelena told her that she had “no class” and “no education.” Jelena also warned Taylor that she would see her outside of America.

Taylor told Jelena that she should “learn how to take a loss gracefully.”

Reporters asked Taylor if she thought Jelena’s words had “racial undertones.” But Taylor said she didn’t take it that way.

“I didn’t take it in that way, but also, you know, 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,” she responded.

“So whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on,” Taylor added. “The only thing that I’m worried about right now is continuing to move forward through this tournament.”

“It’s competition. People get upset when they lose.”

“There’s never been any history. I don’t know how she feels about me, but there’s no beef on my side,” Taylor said. “She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the US. I said, ‘I’m excited. Bring it.’ I’ve never been the one to back down from anything like that.”

Jelena later took to social media to complain about messages she received from people calling her 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,” she wrote.

Jelena said Taylor was “disrespectful” for not saying “sorry” after Taylor won a point off a net cord.

Jelena also complained that Taylor warmed up at the net before the match, instead of back at the baseline, as “all players are supposed to.”

“There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was (the) first time ever that this happened to me on tour,” Jelena wrote. “If she plays in [America], it doesn’t mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.”