US Open star denies racism allegations after | Sports News

Jelena Ostapenko has strongly rejected accusations of racism following her defeat to Taylor Townsend on the US Open, after the tennis gamers engaged in a heated confrontation following their match.

Townsend alleged that Ostapenko instructed her she had “no class or education” during a tense exchange on the internet after the sport. It got here after Novak Djokovic confirmed his true colours to his opponent on the internet after his win earlier within the day. 

Ostapenko has countered by Townsend’s feedback by claiming she confirmed disrespect all through her win, which sparked the incident. But following a wave of criticism on social media, Ostapenko has firmly rejected any suggestion of racial motivation.

“Wow how many messages I received that I am a racist,” Ostapenko wrote on her Instagram story. “I was NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from.

“There are some guidelines in tennis and sadly when the group is with you, you may’t use it in (a) disrespectful approach to your opponent. Unfortunately for me coming from such a small nation I haven’t got that vast help and a likelihood to play in homeland.”

“I at all times beloved to play within the US and US OPEN, however that is the primary time somebody is approaching the match this disrespectful manner.”

Ostapenko also pledged to return more determined after her shocking early departure from the US Open. When questioned about whether Ostapenko’s remarks carried racist undertones during her press conference, Townsend responded, “I do not know-I am unable to communicate on what her intentions had been.

“I can only speak on how I handled the situation, and how I handled it is someone who is upset about the outcome that occurred. You lost, and you’re upset about that.

“Saying I’ve no training and no class, I do not actually take that personally, as a result of I do know that it is so removed from the reality and so removed from something. Again, if I permit what different people should say about me have an effect on me in that manner, then they win. So finally, no.

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“I stood up for myself, and I kept in my mind in that moment how I wanted to portray myself and how I wanted to show up, and if my son were to see this interaction, how would he view it? I think he would be proud of the way that I handled the situation.

“I’m very robust. I’m very proud as a Black lady being out right here representing myself and representing us and our tradition. I make sure that I do all the pieces that I can to be the best illustration doable each time that I step on the court docket and even off the court docket.

“So I can’t speak on how she felt about it. That’s something that you’re going to have to ask her. I didn’t take it in that way, but also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated and all of the things when it’s the furthest thing from the truth.

“The factor that I’m probably the most proud of is that I let my racket speak. Because finally, I’m the one right here sitting in entrance of you guys shifting on to the following spherical, getting the following examine, shifting on, having the ability to nonetheless be right here and communicate to you guys, and that is what’s probably the most important. She’s packed up and she or he’s gone. I’m right here, and that is the one factor that issues.

“So whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on. The only thing that I’m worried about right now is continuing to move forward through this tournament. I know that I’m a fantastic tennis player, and I know that I have a lot of things that I want to accomplish, and this is another stepping stone. It’s another brick that I’m laying on my foundation or on my road to greatness.

“So finally, you already know, no matter it’s that it’s, I do not take any offense to it, however I’m actually proud of the way in which that I dealt with myself. More than something, if my son sees that, I do know that he’ll be proud of me as effectively, and that is what issues probably the most.”