A new angle of the astonishing US Open argument between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend that sparked a racism storm has emerged on social media.
It shows Townsend's gracious response to the furious Latvian, who told her black opponent she has 'no education and no class' during the unsavory scenes in New York.
'Whatever you want to say, but you can learn how to take a loss better,' Townsend says in footage captured by a fan. 'Thank you so much. Great job. Great play.'
Townsend then walked away from Ostapenko eventually and spent 30 seconds whipping up the crowd after a straight-set win at Flushing Meadows.
But, as Ostapenko picked up her bag before leaving the court, she looked up at the fans goading her and, as many on social media have claimed, appeared to say 'f*** you everyone' to those in the stands.
The trigger for the clash appeared to be Townsend not giving the conventional apology when her shot clipped the top of the net at 5-5 in the first set.
The former French Open champion also appeared to take issue with Townsend choosing to start her warm-up at the net, which, she claimed, 'is very disrespectful and against the rules of a tennis match'.
'You have to say sorry,' said Ostapenko, who is notorious for her bad temper, after the match. 'No, oh, I don't have to say sorry,' replied Townsend.
In the wake of her victory, Townsend revealed to ESPN: 'She told me I have no class, no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the US.
'So, I'm looking forward to it: I beat her in Canada, outside the US, so let's see what else she has to say. It's competition, people get upset when they lose, some people say bad things.'
Shortly after, Ostapenko revealed on social media that she had been inundated with allegations of racism. The Latvian strongly denied the claims.
'Wow, how many messages I received that I am a racist,' she wrote on Instagram. 'I was NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn't matter where you come from.'
In her post-match press conference, Townsend was then asked if she believed there were any racial undertones to Ostapenko's comments.
'That's something that you're going to have to ask her,' she said. 'I didn't take it in that way, but also that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated and all of the things when it's the furthest thing from the truth.'
The American continued: 'I can't speak on what her intentions were... saying I have no education and no class, I don't really take that personally, because I know that it's so far from the truth.... whether it had racial undertones or not, that's something she can speak on.'
Townsend added that she is 'very proud as a Black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture. I make sure that I do everything that I can to be the best representation possible every time that I step on the court and even off the court.'
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