When controversy erupted between Jeļena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend at the 2025 US Open, most of the tennis world chose sides. But Aryna Sabalenka chose compassion instead. The world No. 1 revealed she reached out to the embattled Latvian after her heated exchange with Townsend, offering support during what she recognized as a difficult moment for her fellow competitor.
How Did Aryna Sabalenka Describe Her Conversation With Jeļena Ostapenko After the US Open Drama?
The drama unfolded on Court 11 on Wednesday when Townsend stunned 25th seed Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 in the second round. However, what should have been a routine post-match handshake quickly turned into a prolonged argument as Ostapenko confronted her opponent about what she viewed as a lack of sportsmanship. The heated exchange drew boos from the crowd, who rallied behind Townsend as she celebrated with her home supporters.
Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko got into an argument after their match at the U.S. Open pic.twitter.com/od0GwFykBd
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 27, 2025
Iga when she finally beats Penkopic.twitter.com/0GuAR4xoPQ
— Brian | #7inNY #25inNY (@stanpokey) August 27, 2025
The fallout spread quickly beyond the court. Townsend later told reporters that Ostapenko called her “classless” and “uneducated.” At the same time, Ostapenko defended her actions on Instagram, claiming the American had behaved disrespectfully by starting her warm-up at the net and not apologizing for a net-cord winner. The incident split the tennis world, with social media buzzing over the confrontation.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka took an entirely different approach. Fresh off her second-round win over Polina Kudermetova, the world No. 1 addressed the controversy in her post-match press conference. She explained that she spoke privately with Ostapenko but was unaware of what happened between her and Townsend.
“I actually spoke to Jeļena after the match, but during our conversation, I didn’t know what had happened. I have to say that she’s nice. She just sometimes can lose control, and she has some things in life to face and some struggles,” Sabalenka said.
“So I was just trying to help her face it in a mature way, settle down, and be someone she could speak to and just let it go. I think she sometimes can lose control over her emotions, which are pretty tough. I really hope that one day she will figure it out herself and handle it much better.”
What Does Sabalenka Think Causes These On-Court Outbursts?
Sabalenka’s perspective went deeper than just the incident itself. She elaborated further, adding that personal struggles often appear on the court in ways players might not expect or control.
“Sometimes when you struggle with things in life, it can of course reflect on your tennis career. On court you’re more unstable, and you can lose control and not understand what’s going on. Looking back, I’m pretty sure she’s not happy with her behavior,” she said.
The Belarusian’s comments offered a rare glimpse into how top players view these controversial moments. Rather than piling on criticism, Sabalenka chose empathy, recognizing that what happens between the lines often reflects what’s happening in a player’s personal life.
MORE: Jelena Ostapenko Hits Out at Taylor Townsend Supporters After Heated Fight at Net During US Open Loss — ‘I Was Never Racist’
Looking ahead, Sabalenka will take on 31st seed Leylah Fernandez in the third round. This will be their second meeting on the WTA Tour, with the Canadian winning their only previous match during her runner-up campaign at the 2021 US Open. The winner of this match will face either 19th seed Elise Mertens or Cristina Bucșa in the fourth round.
