“Racism has no place in 2024” – Netizens condemn Paula Badosa’s mockery of Asian eyes on social media

Paula Badosa has set her focus to be in the WTA Finals in Riyadh, but is trending on social media for the wrong reasons.

“Racism has no place in 2024” – Netizens condemn Paula Badosa’s mockery of Asian eyes on social media

Paula Badosa was slammed by fans (via X)

Paula Badosa has been enjoying a good run of form lately. The Spanish tennis player, a former World No. 2, has reached the quarterfinals in three of her last four tournaments, including the US Open. She’s now aiming for more success at the Wuhan Open.

However, Badosa faced criticism after her recent social media posts. On Instagram, she was seen making offensive gestures, mocking Chinese eyes and using makeup to express disapproval. This sparked backlash from the tennis community, especially from Asian fans.

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Badosa already faces scrutiny because of her relationship with Stefanos Tsitsipas, as some believe it affects his performance. The added controversy is not something she needed at this point. Still, she hopes to focus on her tennis and her goal of qualifying for the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

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Badosa is currently ranked 11th in the race, with 2,724 points. To qualify for the WTA Finals, she must overtake Emma Navarro, who has 3,568 points and sits in seventh place. Since Barbora Krejcikova has a guaranteed spot due to her Wimbledon win, Badosa needs to surpass Navarro to secure her place.

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Netizens slam Paula Badosa for her social media antics

When Paula Badosa posted pictures on social media, tennis fans on Twitter quickly reacted. Some were surprised she did this while competing in China. However, Badosa will want to put the attention behind her and focus on performing well in the Wuhan tournament. Here are some of the reactions:

Badosa still has a chance to qualify for the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, though it’s a tough path. She is currently ranked 11th in the Race with 2,724 points. Emma Navarro, in seventh place with 3,568 points, holds the final spot for qualification. Badosa needs to overtake her to qualify, as Grand Slam winner Barbora Krejcikova is already guaranteed a spot.

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The Wuhan tournament offers 900 points to the winner, and Badosa is hoping for a strong run. She could face Jessica Pegula in the round of 16, a player she recently defeated. If she wins, a possible quarterfinal match against Krejcikova could follow. Badosa would then need other players, like Navarro, Qinwen Zheng, and Danielle Collins, to lose early in their matches.

If Wuhan doesn’t provide enough points, Badosa still has other chances, such as the WTA 500 tournaments like Tokyo. With her current form, the former World No.2 is aiming for a strong finish to the season and a chance to qualify for the WTA Finals.