Paula Badosa has received backlash for pulling her eyes back with chopsticks in a photo posted to social media. Highlights of the Spanish tennis player's trip to the China Open were uploaded to Instagram by her coach, Pol Toledo, on Sunday.
From the series of pictures, one showed Badosa in a restaurant with a chopstick in each hand being used to pull at the sides of her eyes. Toledo subsequently removed the photo long after tennis fans caught on.
Responding to criticism in the comments, Badosa wrote: "Oh no, please don't get it that way. Never thought it would get interpreted this way, we weren't even imitating Asian people.
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"I was playing around with my face and wrinkles. I love Asia it's one of my favorite people and have plenty of Asian friends. They are the kindest."
She later added on X: "Hey guys! Really sorry didn't know this was offensive towards racism. My mistake. I take full responsibility. This mistake will make me learn for next time (I love Asia btw). Hope you understand. I love you all."
But the response has not washed with everyone. Taking to X, @S-RF_CA wrote: "This is so f***ing embarrassing. Did she and her one brain cell think before making this public? Shameful stuff. I'm lost for words. Racism has no place in 2024. She needs to be held accountable for this."
Others were also outraged, as @GernezDan posted: "So Paula Badosa is now being casually racist against Chinese people while in China? I'm speechless."
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Badosa does not have much time to weather the storm before she is back in competitive action at the Wuhan Open. Her first-round clash with Ajla Tomljanovic is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old had enjoyed a positive week in Asia as she powered all the way to the semi-finals of the China Open. A dominant win over second seed Jessica Pegula helped Badosa reach the last four, where she was toppled in three sets by eventual champion Coco Gauff.
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"Paula’s a tough opponent and every time we play it’s a tough match," said Gauff, who came from a set down to clinch the win. "I knew mentally I had to be there every point and, regardless of the result, I’m proud of how I was able to fight."
Badosa's voyage to the semi-finals in Beijing has seen her surge from 19th to 15th in the WTA's world rankings ahead of this week's action in Wuhan, where she will aim for another deep run.