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Naomi Osaka is standing ten toes down for Taylor Townsend after a heated clash with Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open. Following their second-round match, Jelena allegedly made some personal attacks, telling Taylor she had “no class” and “no education.” The comments sparked major backlash from tennis fans, and now Naomi is weighing in, calling it “one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player.”
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Naomi Osaka Speaks Out
After her victory over Hailey Baptiste on Thursday, August 28, Naomi didn’t shy away when asked about the confrontation between Taylor and Jelena on Wednesday, August 27. The incident, replayed on TV “like, every 15 minutes,” had Naomi heated. “I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority white sport,” she said, calling out the racial weight of Jelena’s remarks. Naomi, whose father is Haitian, praised Taylor’s grind, saying:
“I know how hard she’s worked and how smart she is, so that’s the furthest thing from uneducated.”
Also, she suggested Jelena has a pattern. “I don’t think that’s the craziest thing she’s said, if I’m being honest.” Naomi called the timing “ill” and Taylor the “worst person” to target.
“I don’t know if she knows the history of it in America, but I know she’s never gonna say that ever again. It was just terrible. That’s just really bad.”
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
What Happened Between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend After Their Match
The situation unfolded after Taylor was defeated during their second-round match on August 27. Things got real when a net cord went Taylor’s way, and Jelena, expecting an apology, didn’t get one. Post-match, their handshake set the tone for what was about to happen next. Jelena allegedly told Taylor she had “no class, no education” and added, “See what happens when we get outside the US.” The argument spilled over to Jelena’s chair, with her pointing fingers as the crowd booed.
Shortly after, Jelena took to Instagram, claiming Taylor was “very disrespectful” for not apologizing for the net cord and warming up at the net. She called it being against tennis “rules.” Additionally, Jelena denied racial intent, stating, “I was NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world.” Taylor, unfazed by the rant, told Jelena to “learn how to take a loss better.”
Taylor Addresses Jelena Quarrel
In her press conference, via ESPN, Taylor kept it classy while addressing the shade thrown her way. She confirmed Jelena’s words. When asked if the comments had racial undertones, she responded:
“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.”
Taylor, proud to represent her culture, added that she was “strong” enough to take criticism. She also mentioned being “very proud as a Black woman” to represent her family, but most of all, her culture. She brushed off Jelena’s personal attack:
“I don’t really take that personally, because I know that it’s so far from the truth.”
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