• Jelena Ostapenko apologized for saying Taylor Townsend has "no education" after their US Open match.
• The altercation arose from what Ostapenko perceived as poor tennis etiquette following a net cord incident.
• Former champion Naomi Osaka criticized Ostapenko's comments as especially hurtful towards a Black player.

Jelena Ostapenko publicly apologized for her remarks directed at American tennis player Taylor Townsend after their second-round match at the US Open. The controversy began when Townsend defeated Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1, leading to a heated exchange where Ostapenko accused Townsend of having "no class" and "no education." Ostapenko's frustration stemmed from Townsend's failure to apologize for a net cord that benefited her, a situation that many in tennis consider a breach of etiquette, according to BBC and Reuters.

In a public statement, Ostapenko clarified that English is not her first language and explained, "When I said education, I was speaking only about what I believe is tennis etiquette." She acknowledged that her choice of words could have offended many people, indicating a sense of regret for the incident. This standoff also drew attention from several key figures in the sport, including Naomi Osaka, who commented that Ostapenko's choice of words was one of the worst things to say to a Black player, according to Al Jazeera and HuffPost.

Townsend accepted Ostapenko's apology during her own press conference, stating that it is important for both players to learn from this situation. She emphasized that individuals should not impose their expectations on one another, and Ostapenko's expectations regarding etiquette led to her visible frustration. Townsend indicated that the situation had increased her visibility and recognition within the tennis community, as many fans began to follow her journey after the incident, as reported by Reuters and HuffPost.