Taylor Townsend’s compatriots Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens, and Christopher Eubanks recently expressed their thoughts about her verbal confrontation with Jeļena Ostapenko at the 2025 US Open. Townsend faced Ostapenko in the second round of the New York Major, winning the match with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-1.
Following the match, there was a heated exchange between Townsend and Ostapenko during the customary handshake at the net. The Latvian accused Townsend of not apologizing for a net shot.
In her on-court interview after the match, Townsend revealed what Ostapenko said to her.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s competition. People get upset when they lose, and you can’t… Some people say bad things. She told me I have no class. I have no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S.” Townsend said.
What Did Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens, Christopher Eubanks Say About Taylor Townsend US Open Drama?
In light of this incident, Gauff shared her perspective during a press conference at the 2025 US Open. She stated that Ostapenko’s comments were made in the heat of the moment but should not have been said at all.
“I’m close with Taylor, and I can tell you, Taylor always warmed up at the net since juniors. I know what was said after the match. I think it was a heat-of-the-moment thing, and I think Jeļena was probably feeling emotions after she lost. I think that shouldn’t have been said, regardless of how you’re feeling, especially given the reasons she stated,” Gauff said.
The World No. 3 said that Townsend is one of the nicest people on the tour and expressed disappointment that some people are learning about her in the context of this dispute.
“She’s [Taylor Townsend] one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I really hate to see that maybe this is some of the first people hearing who Taylor Townsend is, and I don’t want that to be the main focus of who she is because she’s a lot more than that. She’s a mom. She’s a great friend. She’s a talented tennis player and a good person,” she added.
Eubanks also commented on the situation, labeling Ostapenko’s “uneducated” remark as a “wild microaggression” rather than an insult stemming from losing a match.
“Calling someone “uneducated” because you lost a tennis match is a WILD microaggression. That’s not an insult that comes from losing a match. That’s probably a feeling that you walk on court with,” Eubanks posted on Threads.
During her ESPN appearance, Stephens noted that incidents like this are not uncommon on the tour. She highlighted that after Ostapenko’s confrontation, her American opponent exhibited significant “class and education.”
“I think on our Tour, this isn’t the first time that we’ve had to deal with this type of situation. I feel like Taylor showed what class and education she does have. I don’t like that she’s playing some of the best tennis of her life, and these are the types of situations she’s dealing with,” Stephens said.
The former US Open champion criticized Ostapenko for her lack of composure after the loss, stating that her actions drew attention away from Townsend’s impressive performance in the match.
“I don’t think the net cord had anything to do with the match. People are emotional when they lose 1000%. A lot of the attention has been taken off of Taylor’s tennis. I do think Ostapenko is a great player. She didn’t show her class and education here,” she added.
Having secured victory over Ostapenko, Townsend faces fifth seed Mirra Andreeva in the third round of the 2025 US Open. The winner of that match will go on to compete against Barbora Krejčíková in the fourth round.
Ostapenko should be fined for accosting an opponent in that degrading manner. She was very out of order. Displayed herself as an uneducated BULLY.
I am correcting myself.
Ostapenko should be fined for accosting an opponent in that degrading manner. She was very out of order. Displayed herself as an uneducated BULLY.