Sloane Stephens voiced strong support for fellow American Taylor Townsend following a tense second-round match against Jelena Ostapenko at the U.S. Open. The match ended with a heated exchange between the two players, drawing attention not only for the tennis but for the words exchanged afterward. Stephens, a longtime friend of Townsend, emphasized the importance of focusing on the athlete’s performance rather than the controversy.
A friendship rooted in respect
Stephens acknowledged her personal connection to Townsend, saying she’s known her since she was ten years old. That bond, she admitted, makes her perspective slightly biased. Still, she pointed out that incidents like this are not rare on the tour. Because it was an American crowd and an American player, she believes the situation was blown out of proportion. Stephens emphasized that similar moments happen throughout the season but rarely receive the same level of attention.
Townsend’s poise amid distraction
Stephens praised Townsend’s composure and professionalism, especially given the circumstances. She highlighted Townsend’s recent achievements in both singles and doubles, noting her rise to world number one in doubles and her strong singles performances. Stephens expressed frustration that instead of celebrating these milestones, Townsend is being pulled into unnecessary drama.
The bigger picture beyond the net cord
Addressing the specifics of the match, Stephens dismissed the idea that a net cord influenced the outcome. She suggested that Ostapenko’s reaction stemmed more from emotion than fairness. Stephens noted that the focus has shifted away from Townsend’s tennis, which she finds disappointing. While she acknowledged Ostapenko’s talent, she felt the Latvian player did not handle the situation with grace.
A call for reflection on tour
Stephens concluded with a broader message about the culture of professional tennis. She emphasized that this kind of behavior isn’t isolated and often goes unaddressed. Her hope is that future incidents will be met with more thoughtfulness and accountability. For now, she stands firmly behind Townsend, urging fans and commentators to recognize the strength and dignity she displayed on court.
This is what she said:
“I think I’m a little biased because I love Taylor, I’m friends with Taylor. I’ve known her since she was 10 years old. I think on our tour, this happens very often… these types of situations. Because we are at the U.S. Open and it was an American crowd and an American player, it has been blown out of proportion. But I think about all the times on tour all year long that players go through this. This isn’t the first time this has happened right? This isn’t the first time that we’ve had to deal with this type of situation.”
“I feel like Taylor showed what class and education she does have. She went out there and she played. I like the fact that she’s playing some of the best tennis of her life, she’s gotten to #1 in the world in doubles, she’s playing amazing singles. And these are the types of situations she’s dealing with. This should be celebratory. This should be happy. She shouldn’t have to be dealing with this outside situation.”
“I don’t think the net cord had anything to do with the match. I think there’s other things that are going on. People are emotional when they lose. 1000 %. A lot of the attention has been taken off of Taylor’s tennis, which I don’t like. I do think Ostapenko is a great player. She didn’t show her class and education here. But I do think when we start to throw these things around… this isn’t a one time thing. This happens often. We just never talk about it. It just never gets the attention it deserves. Maybe the next time on tour someone will think twice before they say what they say.”
Jelena Ostapenko in 2025
Ranked no.26, the Latvian played her last match on the 27th of August when she was defeated by world no.139 Taylor Townsend 7-5 6-1 in the 2nd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
Currently, during this season Jelena owns a 18-17 match record. Jelena clinched 1 title in Stuttgart. Ostapenko was the runner-up in Doha.
Sloane Stephens in 2025
Ranked world no.897, the American played her last match on the 25th of February when she was defeated by world no.195 Petra Martic 6-2 6-3 in the 1st round in Merida (draw).
This year Stephens has a 0-4 record.
Jelena Ostapenko and Sloane Stephens fought against each other only on 2 occasions. The head to head is 1-1.