CNN
—
Jelena Ostopenko apologized for some of the comments he made during a tense exchange with Taylor Towsend in his second round of the US Open, played on Wednesday.
After Towsend’s victory in two sets, both players exchanged words next to the court. The letona told the American that she had no “class” or “education.”
“English is not my mother tongue, so when I talked about education, I was only referring to what I consider tag in the tennis, but I understand that the words I used could offend many people beyond the court,” Ostapenko published on his Instagram account on Saturday.
Ostapenko added that he will continue to learn and grow after the incident, both on and off the court.
According to Ostopenko, the discussion originated for a controversial moment that is not contemplated in the rules of tennis, and instead it was an act of – or the lack of, in this case – sportsmanship.
Later, Ostopenko explained on social networks that his discomfort arose in the middle of his second round match when Towsen did not say “forgiveness” after benefiting from a blow that touched the network. Ostapenko described his American opponent as “disrespectful.”
“There are rules not written in tennis that most players respect and it is the first time something like this happens to me in the circuit,” Ostopenko wrote. “If she plays in her homeland, that does not mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants.”
The incident generated reactions in the world of tennis, including that of the Japanese Naomi Osaka, who spoke on the subject after his second round party.
“He has come on television every 15 minutes,” Osaka told La Prensa after beating Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 6-1 and advancing to the third round.
“I think it is one of the worst things that can be told a black tennis player in a mostly white sport. I know Taylor, I know how much he has worked and how intelligent it is, so he is far from being a person without education.”
“But if you ask me about Ostopenko’s history, I don’t think it’s the most controversial thing he said. Being honest.”
“I think it was a bad moment and the worst person who could be told. I don’t know if she knows the background of that phrase in the United States,” he added. “But I know he will never say it again. It was terrible, really bad.”
Towsend advanced to the fourth round of the US Open after beating the number 5 in the world, Mirra Andreeva, 7-5 and 6-2 on Friday.
Now, the American will face the two -time Grand Slam champion, Barbora Krejčíková, for a place in the quarterfinals.
