Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa has insisted she isn’t a racist after experiencing a backlash over an offensive photo posted on social media.
Badosa was recently in Beijing, where she enjoyed a run to the semi-final of the women’s singles at the China Open. The No.15 beat US Open finalist Jessica Pegula on the way to the final four before being defeated by Coco Gauff on Saturday.
After the defeat, Badosa’s coach, Pol Toledo Bague, posted a collection of photos on to mark their time together in the Chinese capital. One of them showed Badosa in a restaurant holding chopsticks up to her eyes while squinting and pouting.
Toledo deleted the post after tennis fans complained that Badosa was making a racially insensitive gesture. Amid the backlash, Badosa replied on Instagram, writing: “Oh no please don't get it that way. Never thought it would get interpreted this way.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
“We weren't even imitating Asian people. I was playing around with my face and wrinkles. I love Asia – one of my favourite people and have plenty of Asian friends. They are the kindest.”
The controversy spread to , where a post with a screenshot of the photo racked up nearly 900,000 views. Again Badosa tried to defend herself. “Hey guys! Really sorry [I] didn’t know this was offensive towards racism,” she wrote. “My mistake. I take full responsibility. This mistakes will make me learn for next time. Hope you understand…. I love you all”.
Badosa has 1.1million followers on Instagram and 159,000 on Twitter, where she likes to share inspirational quotes. After being knocked out of the China Open, she wrote: “There are times that are managed better and others worse… I continue to learn from each one of them. I continue to rise from each situation. I remain proud of each step forward.
“That's what life is all about. Lucky to be where I am today. It's a gift. Thank you to everyone who is on this boat with me”. Toledo's bio on Instagram reads: "Never stop learning because life never stops teaching".
The 26-year-old has been on the rise in the WTA rankings recently, having reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and the quarter-finals of the US Open this year.
Her recent success has come despite being told to stop playing tennis by doctors in 2023 after suffering a number of injuries. She missed the Australian Open last year due to an adductor injury and was then forced to pull out of the French Open with a stress fracture of her back.
Badosa’s injury record means that she has to be selective of what tournaments to play and, after deciding not to play at the Olympics, she has picked up ranking points at Washington and Cincinnati on the hard courts.
