Osaka, Roddick criticise Ostapenko over ‘hypocrite’ comments against Townsend: ‘Don’t know if she knows the history of it in America’

Naomi Osaka and Andy Roddick have criticised Jelena Ostapenko for her comments against American tennis player Taylor Townsend during an on-court argument between the two at the US Open 2025. The argument ensued as Townsend defeated Latvian Ostapenko in the second round.

While it wasn’t clear what they were arguing about, Townsend later revealed that Ostapenko accused her of having no “class” and “education”. “She told me I have no class, I have no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the US,” she said.

One of the most significant voices in the world of tennis, four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka slammed Ostapenko for lacking sensitivity and blurting out words that can be considered racist.

“I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player in a majority white sport,” Osaka said after beating Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 6-1 and reaching the third round at the US Open for the first time since 2001.

“Granted, I know Taylor and I know how hard she’s worked and I know how smart she is, so she’s the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that.

“If you are genuinely asking me about the history of Ostapenko, I don’t think that’s the craziest thing she has said. It was bad timing and the worst person she could have said that to.

“I don’t know if she knows the history of it in America and she will never say that again, but it’s just terrible. That was 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

Roddick calls Ostapenko a hypocrite

Former US Open champion Roddick called Ostapenko a hypocrite, pointing out her on-court behaviour.

“Let’s level set here. I like meltdowns. I think they are entertaining,” Roddick said on his Served podcast. “I had meltdowns so I can’t criticise someone for a meltdown, which is my point.

“You try not to be a complete hypocrite about things. There is no chance if Meddy [Medvedev] was on this podcast next week, that he would go ‘that guy overreacts to the crowd when it doesn’t go his way’. He makes mistakes and is pretty sober in thought later. He is imperfect, he will admit he is imperfect and will be like ‘I just go nuts’.

“Ostapenko lecturing someone about class on a tennis court is like me lecturing someone about trying everything they can to stop losing their hair! It’s like the heights of hypocrisy and that bothers me.

“If you have that opinion that you want to lecture someone about sportsmanship, I have a suggestion, start looking people in the eye when you shake their hands. Let’s start with that. And then about 15 steps later you can criticise someone for not saying sorry on a net cord.”

“She told me I have no education, no class…Whether it had racial undertones…that’s something she could speak on…I let my racket talk…She’s packed up & gone, I’m here…I don’t take any offense…I’m proud the way I handled myself “

– Taylor Townsend on beating Jelena Ostapenko pic.twitter.com/qcT1lS87JB

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 28, 2025

Ostapenko defends her comments

Ostapenko has defended herself on Instagram with a statement in which she explained her side of the story, saying that Townsend was disrespectful to her during the match.

“Just a small update about the match. Today after the match I told my opponent that she was very disrespectful as she had a net ball in a very deciding moment and didn’t say sorry, but her answer was that she doesn’t have to say sorry at all,” Ostapenko wrote.

“There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was first time ever that this happened to me on tour. If she plays in her homeland it doesn’t mean she can behave and do whatever she wants.”

“In the beginning of the match all players are supposed to start warm up on the baseline. The opponent came out and straight away started the warm up at the [net] which is very disrespectful and against the rules of a tennis match.”