Osaka condemns Ostapenko over Townsend spat

Naomi Osaka said using words like "no education" and "no class" to criticize a black tennis player were among the worst things to say, as the debate over a heated row between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko raged on at the US Open on Aug 28.

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Townsend, who is black, overcame Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 in a tough second-round battle a day earlier, but the real tension came shortly after match point when the pair verbally duelled at the net, with the Latvian repeatedly wagging her finger at the American.

Townsend revealed a part of the exchange during her on-court interview, after which she said in a press conference that Ostapenko would have to answer if there were "racial undertones" to the altercation.

Ostapenko said on Instagram later her anger stemmed from Townsend's refusal to apologize after winning a point when her ball clipped the net and stayed in play, as she accused the American of being "disrespectful".

The Latvian added in another statement that she had never been racist in her life, but Osaka weighed in saying the words Ostapenko used during the altercation were in bad taste.

"It's one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player in a majority white sport," four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka said.