NEW YORK:
Jelena Ostapenko issued an apology on Saturday for her US Open tirade at Taylor Townsend that triggered accusations of racism.
The Latvian participant sparked uproar on Wednesday after her indignant on-court rant following her defeat to African American participant Townsend within the second spherical.
Ostapenko accused Townsend of getting “no schooling” and “no class”, remarks that prompted a social media backlash accusing her of racism.
Ostapenko, who had already issued a separate assertion denying racism, stated Saturday she might see how her “no schooling” remark had induced offence.
“I needed to apologize for among the issues I stated throughout my second spherical singles match,” Ostapenko wrote on Instagram.
“English will not be my native language, so after I stated schooling, I used to be talking about what I consider was tennis etiquette, however I perceive how the phrases I used might have offended many individuals past the courtroom.
“I respect the help as I proceed to be taught and develop as an individual and a tennis participant.”
Townsend stated after the controversy she didn’t consider Ostapenko’s feedback had been racist in intent.
“I did not take it in that approach, but additionally, you understand, that has been a stigma in our neighborhood of being not educated and the entire issues when it is the furthest factor from the reality,” Townsend stated.
“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.”
