Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa recently found herself embroiled in controversy following accusations of racism stemming from a photo shared by her coach. The image, which showed Badosa pulling her eyes back with chopsticks during her time in China for tournaments, ignited a swift backlash on social media after Coach Pol Toledo posted it on Instagram following her semi-final loss at the China Open.
In response to the accusations, the former world No. 2 took to social media to clarify her actions. “We weren’t even imitating Asian people,” she said, explaining that she was just “playing around with my face and wrinkles.” Badosa stressed her admiration for Asian culture, noting, “I love Asia … and have plenty of Asian friends. They are the kindest.” However, due to the escalating criticism, Toledo later removed the photo from his Instagram account.
As she prepared for her appearance at the Wuhan Open, Badosa issued an apology, acknowledging, “I’m really sorry, I didn’t know this was offensive or considered racist. My mistake. I take full responsibility.” She expressed hope that others could understand her perspective and mentioned that she intended to learn from this experience.
Currently ranked No. 15 in the world, Badosa ultimately decided to withdraw from the Wuhan event, citing a gastrointestinal illness, and she has not responded to further requests for clarification. This incident is significant as it marks the second time Spanish athletes have faced accusations related to racism in China. The first occurrence dates back to before the 2008 Beijing Olympics when the Spanish basketball federation faced backlash over a controversial advertisement featuring similar gestures. In that situation, NBA star Pau Gasol expressed regret, clarifying that the gesture was a directive from a sponsor and was never intended to offend. He remarked, “If anyone feels offended by it, we totally apologize for it.”
