The US Open witnessed a dramatic clash between Taiwanese tennis players Hsieh Su-wei and Chan Hao-ching during the Women’s Doubles Round of 16. The match, held at Flushing Meadows, was marked by heated interactions including taunts, a confrontation with the umpire, and an intentional snub in the post-match handshake.
Hsieh paired with Latvian Jeļena Ostapenko as the fourth-seeded team. They defeated Chan and Australian Maya Joint, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. The rivalry intensified during the match when Ostapenko and Hsieh accused Chan’s coach of mocking them from the player’s box. Reportedly, he applauded their unforced errors and double faults using sarcastic remarks in Mandarin.
Ostapenko, who doesn’t understand Mandarin, relied on Hsieh to translate the comments. Expressing frustration, she demanded that a Chinese translator be brought to the court. Ostapenko shouted, “They do this because they know they cannot beat us, because they’re so much worse than us.” In a demonstration of contempt, she aimed her post-victory celebration towards Chan’s coaching box.
The match concluded with a notable snub. At the net, Chan shook hands with Ostapenko but deliberately bypassed Hsieh, avoiding eye contact with her compatriot.
Their hostility stems from a longstanding conflict over resources, national team support, and sports politics within Taiwan. Representing Taiwan internationally under the official name “Chinese Taipei,” Hsieh and Chan have clashed over favoritism from the Chinese Taipei Tennis Association. Hsieh, who previously held the world No. 1 ranking in doubles, accused the association of prioritizing Chan and her sister, Latisha Chan, in sponsorships and coaching.
The rivalry reached new heights during the 2016 Rio Olympics when support was allegedly directed away from Hsieh in favor of the Chan sisters. Hsieh withdrew from the Olympics as a protest, setting in motion a feud that erupted on the courts of Flushing Meadows.