Naomi Osaka claimed that in the midst of the heated argument between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open, using the words “no education” and “no class” to criticize a Black tennis player was one of the worst things to say.
In a difficult second-round battle on Wednesday, Townsend, a Black man, defeated 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1.
However, the moment was immediately after the match when the pair verbally threw their fist at the American.
Townsend made a part of the conversation public during an on-court interview, and she later claimed Ostapenko would have to respond if the incident had “racial undertones.”
Ostapenko later claimed on Instagram that Townsend’s refusal to apologize after winning a point, when she claimed the American was “disrespectful” and that the incident occurred at a crucial moment, when the ball clipped the net and stayed in play, was the source of her outrage.
Most players practice apologizing for winning a point without being required to do so.
Osaka claimed Ostapenko’s words during the altercation were offensive despite the Latvian’s repeated claim that she had never been racist in her life.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka remarked, “One of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a sport with a majority of white players.”
She’s the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that because I know Taylor and I know how hard she’s worked and how smart she is.
Osaka, who was born into a Japanese mother and Haitian father, has long been a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement both in Japan and the United States. During her campaign campaign for the 2020 Flushing Meadows title, she was a strong supporter.
Before each of her seven matches, the 27-year-old had used her platform to make a different face mask with the name of an African American who had been killed in recent years to draw attention to racial injustice in the United States.
“I don’t think that’s the craziest thing she’s said if you’re like asking me about Ostapenko’s history on the spot.” With a smile, Osaka continued, “I’m going to be honest.”
“I believe it was a bad choice and the worst person you could have ever spoken to,” he said. And I’m not sure if she is familiar with its American history.
She’s never going to say that in her life again, I assure her. But it was absolutely awful, right? That is simply unacceptable.
American Coco Gauff argued that Ostapenko should not have said what she said, but that the discussion was a “heat of the moment”occurrence.
Gauff, a vocal supporter of social issues, including racial justice, said, “I know what was said after the match.”
It was “a heat of the moment situation.” After losing, Elena was probably feeling emotions. Regardless of how you’re feeling, I do believe that shouldn’t have been said. “Because I know Taylor personally, she’s the opposite,” she says.
Gauff praised Townsend as one of the kindest people she knew, and hoped people would now make an effort to learn more about her.
Because of how much more than that, I don’t want Taylor to be the main focus of who she is. Maybe this is when people are hearing who she is.
