Paula Badosa continues showcasing her love for Chinese fans at Ningbo Open; thanks them for support days after being accused of racism

Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa is pulling out all the stops to make amends with her Chinese fans. During the 2024 Ningbo Open, Badosa expressed her heartfelt gratitude for their unwavering support in a determined effort to restore her reputation following a controversial incident last week.

The controversy began at the 2024 China Open, where Badosa faced immense backlash for a gesture perceived as racist. In an ill-advised moment captured on social media by her physical trainer, Pol Toledo, Badosa was seen using chopsticks to pull back her eyelids, mimicking slanted eyes—a stereotype associated with Asians.

Checkout the picture here:

The Instagram post sparked widespread outrage, compelling Toledo to delete the picture and Badosa to issue public apologies across her social media platforms.

Despite the setback, Badosa has been actively engaging with her Chinese audience at the Ningbo Open, where the eighth-seeded Spaniard kicked off her campaign with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Diana Shnaider in the first round. Emphasizing her dedication to mending fences, Badosa took to Instagram to share a picture of herself signing autographs for Chinese fans after her win.

"The fans here are 🤩"; "Thanks for the nice support," Badosa captioned.

Paula Badosa on Instagram/@paulabadosa

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"I was playing around" - Paula Badosa issued clarification amid racism row

Paula Badosa at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships (Image source: Getty)

Paula Badosa issued an apology after being accused of mocking Asians through seemingly racist gestures.

In a comment on the now-deleted Instagram post, Badosa explained that she was "playing around" with her facial expressions. The Spaniard emphasized that her gesture was never meant to offend and expressed remorse for any confusion it may have caused.

"Oh no please don't get it that way. 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 favorite people and have plenty of Asian friends. They are the kindest," she wrote.

Paula Badosa's comment on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/DAxLoUnPwep/?utm_source=ig_embed)

Badosa took to X and wrote:

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

Badosa will take on home favorite Wang Xiyu in the second round at the 2024 Ningbo Open on October 16. The winner of this match will face either sixth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia or Katie Boulter in the quarterfinals.