Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend clashed after their US Open match. Ostapenko accused Townsend of disrespect, citing a net cord incident and warm-up procedures. Townsend disagreed, stating she wasn't obligated to apologize. Ostapenko, in Instagram posts, denied racism accusations stemming from the incident, highlighting perceived rule violations by Townsend. Townsend acknowledged the 'stigma' surrounding such comments but didn't interpret them racially. This isn't Ostapenko's first on-court controversy; she's known for volatile behavior.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.