Tennis star Paula Badosa accused of being racist in chopsticks photo

Tennis star Paula Badosa is being accused of racism after posing with a pair of chopsticks and squinting in a photo that surfaced over the weekend. 

After losing to Coco Gauff in the semifinals of the China Open, Badosa’s coach, Pol Toledo, posted a series of photos on Instagram of the former World No. 1’s time in Beijing, including the incriminating image. 

Toledo has since deleted the post, but not before Badosa issued an apology in the comments.

“Oh no, please don’t get it that way,” she wrote on the platform. “I never thought it would get interpreted this way. We weren’t even imitating Asian people. I was playing around with my face and wrinkles. I love Asia, one of my favourite places, and have plenty of Asian friends. They are the kindest.”

Badosa also took to X to quell the backlash.

“Hey guys! Really sorry didn’t know this was offensive towards racism,” Badosa said. “My mistake. I take full responsibility. This mistakes will make me learn for next time. Hope you understand…. I love you all

“So Paula Badosa is now being casually racist against Chinese people while in China?” Dan Gernez wrote on X. “I’m speechless.”

“Badosa is genuinely stupid,” another user wrote. “This is so f—— 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 held accountable for this.”

Badosa reportedly withdrew from this week’s Wuhan Open, citing an illness.

The social media storm comes after a rough stretch on the court for Badosa.

In 2023, she missed the Australian Open with an oblique injury and later was forced to drop out of both the French Open and Wimbledon. 

Badosa has had a bit more success recently, making the quarterfinal in the US Open.