(Video) Magda Linette involves in an ‘awkward’ moment with interviewer after getting booed by Wuhan Open crowd for ‘racist’ social media post

Magda Linette is at the receiving end of criticism for her seemingly racist remarks on social media she posted ahead of the Wuhan Open.

(Video) Magda Linette involves in an ‘awkward’ moment with interviewer after getting booed by Wuhan Open crowd for ‘racist’ social media post

Magda Linette tried to apologize to Wuhan Open crowd after 'racist' social media post (Images via X)

There was confusion when Magda Linette walked up to give her interview after her opening match at Wuhan Open against Liudmila Samsonova on Tuesday (October 8). The Pole breezed past the 11th seed with scores of 6-2, 6-2, but what followed has become a topic of discussion on social media.

Linette posted, “The virus database has been updated” on her social media upon arrival in Wuhan, where the first cases of COVID-19 were recorded in 2019. With this text, which is a message from an antivirus program, Linette might have tried to be humorous, but it was offensive to many Chinese people. 

YouTube video

Check the post here:

FS Video

Linette later deleted the post, knowing that she had made an inappropriate comment which was perceived as a ‘racist’ remark. During the post-match interview, there were even shouts of “Apologize”.

The 32-year-old was trying to apologize to the fans when the interviewer took away the microphone and asked her to talk about her match. The interviewer also did not translate to the Chinese crowd that Linette tried to apologize as she simply told them that the Pole thanked them.

I know that I offended some of you guys, so I really…thank you so much for still being so nice to me. Thank you so much. 

Magda Linette said 

Here’s the video:

Linette is not the only one to cause an uproar with her seemingly racist remarks. Paula Badosa had to apologize to the Chinese fans after her gesture with chopsticks.

RELATED
“I’m bored and procrastinating,” Coco Gauff explains her social media rants after being told to stay away from Twitter
China Open women's draw

Magda Linette will next face Lesia Tsurenko at Wuhan Open

Magda Linette has secured her third-round match against Lesia Tsurenko, scheduled on October 9. The Ukrainian played the qualifiers and went past Katie Boulter in her first round. 

Magda Linette
Magda Linette (Image via X)

45th-ranked Linette has overall three titles on the WTA Tour, one of which she lifted this year. She defeated Magdalena Frech in straight sets in July to lift the Prague Open. The Ukrainian on the other hand, is still searching for her first title. She has won four trophies overall. 

Wednesday’s third round will be their fifth match on the WTA Tour as they both have a 2-2 head-to-head record in their previous four meetings. They first locked horns way back in 2011 in Opole which the Pole won.

RELATED
Gael Monfils fears Carlos Alcaraz will “crush” him in Shanghai as they meet for the first time after Cincinnati Open
Carlos-Alcaraz-Gael-Monfils

Tsurenko secured the next match when they faced each other 10 years later in Eastbourne. The next two encounters were in 2024. Tsurenko won in Miami, while in their last meeting in Hua Hin, Linette emerged as the winner.