Naomi Osaka weighed in on the controversy that swirled between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko following their second-round U.S. Open match earlier this week.
After losing to Townsend on Wednesday, Ostapenko stated in a heated post-match exchange that Townsend had “no class,” and “no education,” adding, “to see what happens” when the two face off outside U.S. soil. Ostapenko later stated on social media that her issues with Townsend were triggered by a perceived lack of sportsmanship and etiquette during the match.
Townsend pushed back in the post-match conference.
“You’re not going to insult me, especially after I carried myself a certain type of way with nothing but respect. If I show respect to you, I expect respect as well,” Townsend said. “No matter what’s going on, it’s me versus you, but at the end of the day we have to respect each other and respect what happens out on at the court. It’s competition.”
Osaka, the former world No. 1 and two-time U.S. Open champion, shared her thoughts in a press conference on Thursday.
