Tennis star Paula Badosa is accused of racism for performing a pulled-eye gesture, using chopsticks, at the China Open… but incredibly claims ‘I never thought it would get interpreted this way’

Tennis star Paula Badosa has apologized to fans after causing controversy with an “offensive” pose in a social media post.

On Saturday afternoon, Badosa suffered a defeat in the semi-finals of the China Open at the hands of American star Coco Gauff, who later won the tournament.

In the aftermath, Badosa’s coach Pol Toledo posted on Instagram a collection of photos from their time at the tournament.

One photo showed Badosa eating and gesturing with a pair of chopsticks against her face and her eyes narrowed.

It led to some social media users claiming that Badosa had made a racist gesture. Toledo has now deleted the message.

Tennis star Paula Badosa has apologized to fans after she caused controversy by posing with a pair of chopsticks and closing her eyes in a social media post

The Spaniard claimed she ‘didn’t know this was offensive’ in her post online to her supporters

Now Badosa has come forward and apologized to her supporters, before insisting she was not “imitating Asian people” in the photo.

Commenting on Instagram, she wrote: “I never thought it could be interpreted this way. We didn’t imitate Asian people, I played with my face and wrinkles. I love Asia and I have a lot of Asian friends.’

Badosa then responded to a post about the incident on

‘I take full responsibility and it was a mistake. These mistakes will ensure that I learn for next time. I hope you understand…I love you all.”

Badosa recently admitted that doctors told her to stop playing tennis last year after suffering a number of injuries.

The former world number 2 endured a difficult 2023 in which she missed the Australian Open due to an adductor injury before withdrawing from the French Open with a stress fracture in her back.

Badosa rushed back to play at Wimbledon but was forced to retire in the second round before taking an extended break from the sport.

Badosa suffered a defeat in the semi-finals of the China Open before the controversy arose

She has since fought her way back to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open before being knocked out by home favorite Emma Navarro.

Badosa now has to be more selective with the tournaments she plays, and she skipped the Olympics to focus her attention on the hard court season leading up to the US Open.

Her strategy has paid off, as she picked up valuable ranking points in Washington and Cincinnati earlier this year.

She continued her good form when she teamed up with her friend and fellow tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas to win an exhibition event in New York called US Open Mixed Madness – and £250,000 in prize money.