As Taylor Townsend booked her place in the third round of a Grand Slam in singles for the first time since 2023, she was met at the net with an agitated Jelena Ostapenko.
Following Townsend’s victory over Ostapenko in straight sets at the US Open, the Latvian voiced her frustrations about her opponent refusing to apologise after winning a point via the net cord.
The American later revealed after their match that the former French Open champion told her she has ‘no class’ and ‘no education’.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka recently weighed in on the altercation, stating that Ostapenko needs to do a better job of controlling her emotions.
Now, after his second-round victory over Lloyd Harris, Townsend‘s compatriot Taylor Fritz has had his say on the situation.
Taylor Fritz gives his verdict on the altercation between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko
In his post-match conference, Fritz was asked if players should apologise for winning a point after hitting the net cord.
The 2024 US Open finalist responded: “If someone does it to me and does not apologise, I don’t care at all to be honest.
“If anything, I think it probably is going to fire me up. I will play better because that maybe p—— me off. But I would not make a big deal about it.
“For me it’s just like at this point, just a reflex. If I win a point in a cheesy way with a net cord, I will be like [hands up] my bad.
“But also I think it’s fine to be like my bad and then celebrate a little bit afterwards, if it’s a big point.
“If the point itself before that was good a little celebration [is fine], so for me it’s just common courtesy but I don’t really care too much.”
Fritz added that he does not notice when someone apologises after a lucky shot, explaining: “I feel like I just assume that they do. So I sometimes don’t even look.”
Taylor Townsend is now one win away from matching best major campaign
Following a fiery second-round bout, Townsend will now look to carry her momentum into round three at Flushing Meadows, where she will have the chance to match her best major singles campaign.
Her most successful run at a Grand Slam came in 2019, where she reached the fourth round of the US Open before bowing out to eventual champion Bianca Andreescu.
Standing in her way of the feat, however, is fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, who she has played just once before.
The two met in the first round of the Madrid Open in 2024, where Andreeva emerged victorious on the clay in three sets.
Townsend will now face the Russian on hard court for the first time, and will have the home crowd on her side.
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