The US Open 2025, the last Grand Slam of the year was wobbly by the racist scandal in the match between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko in the second round of women.
Compared to Taylor Townsend, Seed No. 25, Jelena Ostapenko is more appreciated than the competition between the two players in the Women's Single Round at the US Open 2025.
Stress exploded after closing the match. While moving to shake hands, Ostapenko suddenly pointed to Townsend's face and said harshly about Townsend “without class, without education”, and even let go of the challenge “see what would happen if going to the United States”. Ostapenko, the Latvian female athletes also let go of the words of insults and racism, the skin color discrimination.
In a press conference after the match, Taylor Townsend frustrated: “This is a tournament rather than a place to slander others. She (I mean Ostapenko) said I was not educated, not class.
Townsend asserted that she was proud to be a black woman, and always tried to do everything well. “What I am most proud is that I won with my own abilities. She lost and had to leave the tournament, and I was still here, entered the next round. That is the most important thing.”
Meanwhile, Ostapenko went to social networks and tried to counter: “I have never been a racist. I always respect everyone.”