What Jelena Ostapenko said about the US Open crowd when she faced Taylor Townsend in New York back in 2018

Follow us on Google Discover

Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend stole all the headlines on day four of the 2025 US Open.

Battling it out for a place in the third round of the US Open, things got heated between the Latvian and American on Court 11.

Losing the match in straight sets, Ostapenko seemed to take issue with Townsend for not apologizing for a net cord.

During her on-court interview, Townsend claimed Ostapenko had said she had ‘no class and no education’, and that she should ‘wait until we’re outside the US’.

Ostapenko didn’t seem to be happy with the support Townsend received, but how did she react to the crowd when they first played at the US Open, seven years earlier?

Jelena Ostapenko didn’t think the crowd favored Taylor Townsend ‘at all’ when they played at the 2018 US Open

After Ostapenko and Townsend won their opening matches, just as they did in 2025, they advanced to meet in round two of the 2018 US Open.

• 2018 US Open 1R – Jelena Ostapenko defeated Andrea Petkovic, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
• 2018 US Open 1R – Taylor Townsend defeated Amanda Anisimova, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

It was Townsend who had the better of things early on, taking the first set 6-4, before Ostapenko fought back.

Securing the win in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, Ostapenko booked her place in the third round of the US Open for the second year in a row.

During her post-match press conference, Ostapenko was asked the following question.

• “What did you make of the atmosphere on the court? The crowd was very much for Taylor [Townsend]. You seemed to be appreciative of them at the end of the match.

Disagreeing with the reporter’s assessment of the crowd support, Ostapenko argued the fans weren’t in favor of Townsend at all.

“Actually, I didn’t feel like the crowd was for her at all,” she said.

“I felt like it was half and half because so many people were, like, cheering for me.

“I heard so many times people saying my name. It was a surprise because I was playing against an American player.”

The New York crowd is known to proudly (and loudly) support their own, which often intimidates their opponents.

That wasn’t the case in 2018, according to Ostapenko at least, who believed the fans were fair in their support for both players.

A lot has clearly changed since then, as the Latvian now looks forward to her next meeting with Townsend outside of the United States.

Ostapenko clearly believes she would have a better chance of beating Townsend elsewhere, but who won their one career meeting away from the US Open?

Taylor Townsend vs Jelena Ostapenko – 2024 Canadian Open

Playing for the first time in six years, the pair met in Toronto at the 2024 Canadian Open.

Competing for a place in the quarterfinals, Townsend got her revenge against Ostapenko in dominant fashion.

Dropping just three games, Townsend defeated Ostapenko 6-2, 6-1, as she advanced to the last eight of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career.

Townsend now leads the singles head-to-head with Ostapenko 2-1, but their doubles record is far more startling.

Before losing to the team of Ostapenko and Su Wei Hsieh at Wimbledon earlier this year, Townsend had won their first eight meetings in doubles.

As two of the best players in women’s doubles, Ostapenko and Townsend have spent quite a lot of time across the net from one another over the last few years.

Top-five players in women’s doubles

• 1. Taylor Townsend
• 2. Katerina Siniakova
• 3. Jelena Ostapenko
• T-4. Jasmine Paolini
• T-4. Sara Errani

The chances are we will see Ostapenko and Townsend meet again before too long, as it will certainly be interesting to see if things have calmed down by then!

For now, Townsend will turn her attention to the US Open third-round (singles), where she will play Mirra Andreeva on Friday, August 29.