While the weather forecast for Flushing Meadows was cool and breezy, the temperature on Court 11 was anything but, thanks to a fiery on-court exchange between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko.
The match in question saw home favourite and world No 139, Townsend, take on world No 25 Ostapenko of Latvia.
Serving rhythm
The first set was a tight affair. Ostapenko played a strong return game, coming forward to take the American’s serve early.
The approach benefited her, and gave her an early 3-0 lead. But Townsend soon broke back and held, climbing back into the match after finding her serving rhythm, bringing the score to 4-5, before taking the lead and eventually the set (7-5).
The second set was a different story as Townsend played scintillating tennis, powering past Ostapenko to take an early lead, then going on to clinch the set 6-1.
While the match had ended, the battle had only just begun. Perhaps there were signs of foreboding from the start.
Court 11, an outside court, had gathered a packed-out crowd, to add to the atmosphere, even before the players had arrived.
It was standing room only as ticket holders who bought grounds passes were rewarded with the opportunity to watch a home favourite at close proximity.
Drama
They were about to be rewarded with drama beyond the tennis.
Townsend wore a custom black dress featuring flames along the hemline, said to represent a phoenix rising from the ashes. Ironic, given the metaphoric embers that were to come.
After the match, she elaborated on the outfit choice: “I’m an Aries, so I’m a fire sign. I wore fire today. Maybe that’s why I was fired up. I was ready to go” (laughing).
Within seconds of approaching the net for the post-match handshake, the tension between the two players was palpable, as Ostapenko wagged her finger at Townsend to begin her tirade.
Home fans booed, showing their support for their player, while capturing the exchange on their cell phones.
The booing piqued the curiosity of neighbouring spectators, drawing more crowds who were within earshot of Court 11.
Standard tennis practice
Ostapenko’s umbrage at Townsend was two-fold: Not apologising after a net cord shot, and also about Townsend beginning her pre-match warm-up at the net, as opposed to the baseline, as per standard tennis practice.
After the match, Townsend told reporters, “If she’s complaining about how I warm up, that’s fine. Everyone knows this isn’t – this is something that I do. You can go back to the time that I played my first-ever pro tennis match, and I’ve been doing this since even juniors. It wasn’t anything targeted towards her to try and take her off of her game or her rhythm. You know, I just was doing my thing.
“Honestly, laugh at it. I think it’s comical. I think that it’s kind of funny, because to then go online and have to justify what you said, you obviously feel some type of way and feel like you have to give an explanation for how you acted.”
Ostapenko’s diatribe against Townsend soon turned personal.
“She (Ostapenko) told me I have no class, no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the US”.
Townsend added: “I’m looking forward to it. I beat her in Canada outside the US. I said, I’m excited, bring it”.
Went viral
The row went viral on social media, including other players who expressed their opinion on the matter.
World No 24 Naomi Osaka said, “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 Ostapenko knows the history of it in America. I know Taylor – how hard she’s worked, how smart she is, so she’s the furthest thing from uneducated.
“I think that that’s tennis, right? You know 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 the court. It’s competition”.
Taylor Townsend didn’t let the furore affect her and went on to upset world No 5 Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-2 in the next round.
She will take on the Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejčíková in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively from the US Open in Flushing Meadows for The South African.
Is tennis missing more ‘characters’ like John McEnroe?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
