Cultural sensitivity is being put to the test in women’s tennis, and two prominent players—Paula Badosa and Magda Linette—are learning the hard way. Both players recently faced backlash in China after social media posts were interpreted as insensitive, sparking outrage among local fans. Badosa’s playful photo holding chopsticks to her eyes and Linette’s remark about the “virus database” upon arriving in Wuhan have not gone over well, to say the least.
On the latest episode of the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Stubbs and co-host Eliza Wastcoat didn’t hold back in their critique of these missteps, calling out both players’ apparent lack of cultural awareness. Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach, voiced her disappointment, asking, “What are you guys doing? You gotta have a better sense of this.” Wastcoat added to the commentary, questioning if the WTA should offer cultural sensitivity training for players competing abroad.
For those unfamiliar with the incidents, Linette, fresh off a decisive victory at the Wuhan Open, posted a caption that read, “The virus database has been updated,” referencing Wuhan, where COVID-19 originated. The comment struck a nerve with local fans, who saw it as insensitive. In response, Linette attempted an apology during an on-court interview, but the host quickly redirected her to talk about the match instead. Her attempt at damage control did little to calm the outrage.
Badosa’s controversy erupted after her coach shared an Instagram photo showing her holding chopsticks to her eyes, which was interpreted as a racial caricature. Following immediate backlash, Badosa posted a formal apology on X, explaining that she hadn’t realized the image could be viewed as offensive. “I take full responsibility. These mistakes will make me learn for next time,” Badosa wrote. She later tried to clarify her intentions, insisting the photo was taken out of context and that she “never thought it would get interpreted this way.”
Stubbs and Wastcoat argued that these actions reflect a troubling level of “ignorance” among some players, comparing their actions to “high-school kind of behavior.” They pointed to Coco Gauff as an example of grace and maturity, praising the 20-year-old’s “classy behavior” and calling her “an epitome of doing things right.”
This controversy has highlighted a crucial point: cultural awareness and respect are essential for athletes who serve as global representatives for their sport. While apologies were issued, they may not fully undo the damage caused, and for Badosa and Linette, it’s a lesson learned the hard way. The WTA may now need to consider implementing cultural education, ensuring its players avoid these pitfalls and represent the sport with respect and sensitivity.
