Naomi Osaka Calls Jelena Ostapenko’s Comments to Taylor Townsend ‘One of the Worst Things You Can Say to a Black Tennis Player’

The spark ignited at the US Open right after Taylor Townsend closed out a straight-sets win over Jelena Ostapenko. What should’ve been a routine handshake turned into a flashpoint when Ostapenko confronted Townsend over a net-cord point and post-match etiquette, accusing her of lacking “class” and “education.”

Within hours, the clip ricocheted across timelines, pushing the story beyond tennis diehards. This wasn’t just a spat—it touched nerves about respect, race, and how athletes speak under pressure. Then Naomi Osaka weighed in—measured, direct, unmistakably firm—giving the incident gravity that stretched past a single match.