A tense moment unfolded during the 2025 US Open when Jelena Ostapenko described Taylor Townsend as having “no education, no class.” American tennis player Ben Shelton called the statement “crazy,” steering attention toward questions of respect in the sport.

Tempers flared at the US Open when Taylor Townsend alleged that Jelena Ostapenko told her she has “no class.” Ostapenko, in turn, claimed Townsend was disrespectful and broke “rules of tennis,” creating a fiery post-match moment that drew widespread media coverage.

A heated tennis match at the US Open took a dramatic turn when Taylor Townsend defeated Jelena Ostapenko. Tensions flared after the match, culminating in Ostapenko reportedly calling Townsend “no class.”

Jelena Ostapenko addressed the tense confrontation with Taylor Townsend soon after losing to her in the second round of the US Open. She took to the internet to deny any accusations of racism, insisting she has “never” been racist in her life.