The Women’s Doubles Round of 16 at the US Open witnessed an intense personal clash between Taiwanese tennis players Hsieh Su-wei and Chan Hao-ching. The rivalry flared in Flushing Meadows, featuring provocative gestures, a verbal altercation with the umpire, and a deliberate handshake snub post-match.

Hsieh, paired with Latvian partner Jeļena Ostapenko, faced Chan and Australian Maya Joint. The fourth-seeded duo, Hsieh and Ostapenko, triumphed in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. During the match, Ostapenko and Hsieh accused Chan’s coach of taunting them, applauding errors and faults sarcastically in Mandarin.

Ostapenko, unable to speak Mandarin, relied on Hsieh to translate the remarks. Ostapenko demanded the presence of a Chinese translator on court and criticized the behavior as disrespectful. She asserted, “They do this because they know they cannot beat us, as they are much worse than us.” Upon winning the match, Ostapenko celebrated by shouting towards Chan’s coaching box.

Following the match, tensions escalated during the customary post-match handshake. Chan shook Ostapenko’s hand but bypassed Hsieh without extending her hand, ignoring her compatriot.

The discord between the players is rooted in Taiwan’s domestic sports politics and competition over resources. Both athletes compete internationally under the “Chinese Taipei” designation. Hsieh has repeatedly accused the Chinese Taipei Tennis Association of preferentially treating Chan and her sister, Latisha Chan, in funding, sponsorship, and coaching decisions.

This animosity reached a peak during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Hsieh alleged biased support towards the Chan siblings over her coach. Hsieh’s exit from the games in protest marked the beginning of a prolonged grudge, recently reignited at the US Open.