Jeļena Ostapenko Reacts to Handshake Incident After U.S. Open Victory

Jeļena Ostapenko expressed frustration after her doubles victory with Hsieh Su-wei against Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint in the Round of 16 at the U.S. Open on September 8, 2026. Following their 6-4, 6-4 win, Ostapenko directed shouts towards Chan's player box during the post-match celebration. Hsieh also shouted towards Chan's camp. After the match, Ostapenko attempted to shake hands with Joint and Chan, but Chan did not reciprocate, leaving Ostapenko visibly stunned as she exited the court. The match included a moment where Ostapenko called for a tournament supervisor, suggesting that Hsieh's team was coaching from the stands. The tension appears to stem from a longstanding rivalry between Hsieh and Chan, attributed to perceived favoritism by the Chinese Taipei Tennis Association towards Chan and her sister, Yung-Jan. Ostapenko's next match could potentially be against Taylor Townsend, provided both players advance past the quarterfinals. Last year, Ostapenko had a contentious exchange with Townsend after a match where she felt Townsend did not apologize for a net cord incident. Ostapenko did not progress past the first round in this year's singles draw and did not address the media following her match. Chan and Joint previously defeated Venus and Serena Williams in the opening round.