Worst thing you can say to a black tennis player: Naomi Osaka to Jelena Ostapenko

5 days ago 8

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Jelena Ostapenko is regarded as one of the fiercest players in the circuit and Naomi Osaska said the comments were terrible. (AP Photo)

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka has condemned Jelena Ostapenko’s comments during her courtside confrontation with Taylor Townsend at the US Open. After their second round match at the ongoing US Open, Ostapenko accused the American Townsend of having no education and no class. Ostapenko had made the comments after Townsend didn’t apologise for a shot that hit the top of the net during their game.

The issue has spiralled on with many accusing Ostapenko’s comments as racist, which the player has outright denied. Even Townsend said she didn’t interpret the Latvian’s comment as racist. But when asked about the episode, Osaka said, “I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player in a majority white sport,” said Osaka after reaching the third round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2021 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Hailey Baptiste. “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.”

Ostapenko is regarded as one of the fiercest players in the circuit and Osaska said the comments were terrible. “If you’re 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. 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. But I know she’s never going to say that ever again in her life. It was just terrible,” she added.

Townsend, on the other hand, chose to see the positive side saying the confrontation could end up bringing more people to watch the US Open. “If I’m someone who can draw huge crowds into the stadiums as a name that can bring people to come and buy tickets and support the game, then that’s a crown that I’ll gladly wear,” Townsend said.

“Whatever that it is, whatever type of attention that it brought, it’s doing the right things, which is bring people to see the sport and bringing people in to support and that’s what it’s all about,” she added.

When asked specifically if the comments were racist, Townsend said: “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.” The American said other players have reached out privately to voice their support and she has been receiving plenty of support online as well.

Aryna Sabalenka also had comments to make about the incident saying she had spoken to Ostapenko about the episode. ““I have to say that she’s nice,” the Belarusian said. “She just sometimes can lose control. She has some things in life to face and some struggles. I was just trying to help her to face it more in a mature way, trying to help her to settle down and just was someone she could speak to and just let it go. I really hope that one day she will figure herself and she will handle it much better. I’m pretty sure, looking back, she’s not happy with her behaviour.”

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