Latvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko has issued a public apology after sparking backlash for her post-match comments directed at American player Taylor Townsend.
Ostapenko, 28, came under fire earlier this week after losing to Townsend and lashing out in her press remarks, calling the winner “classless” and claiming she had “no education.” Many interpreted the remarks as racially charged, drawing widespread condemnation across the tennis world and beyond.
Townsend expressed her disappointment at the comments, while fans online criticized Ostapenko for crossing the line of sportsmanship.
Taking to Instagram Stories, the former French Open champion admitted fault and clarified her choice of words, citing language barriers as a contributing factor.
“I wanted to apologize for some of the things I said during my second-round singles match,” she wrote. “English is not my native language, so when I said education, I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette, but I understand how the words I used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court.”
Ostapenko concluded her note by adding: “I appreciate the support as I continue to learn and grow as a person and a tennis player. Goodbye, New York, and I look forward to being back next year.”
Her apology comes as conversations around sportsmanship, respect, and racial sensitivity continue to make headlines in professional tennis.
